King James Bible
"Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;"
Luke refers to the transmission of accounts about Jesus from original sources to later recipients like himself. This establishes a chain of testimony, emphasizing that the Gospel narrative isn't invented but carefully passed down from those who witnessed the events firsthand. These sources were present "from the beginning"—likely referring to Jesus' ministry from its inception. The term "eyewitnesses" (Greek: autoptai) carries legal weight, suggesting these were not secondhand reporters but direct observers whose testimony would stand up to scrutiny. Beyond merely observing, these witnesses became active servants (Greek: hyperetai) of the message they proclaimed. This dual role as both witnesses and ministers indicates they were not passive observers but committed disciples who dedicated their lives to spreading what they had seen and heard.