By Wendell Tenison
Friend of God:
Strong's # 2321 renders the meaning of the name as "friend of God." Both Strong and Thayer indicate that Theophilus was a Christian. There has and probably will always be a difference of opinion as to what nationality this man was. A need to know does not affect our salvation, but a right understanding of what blood he was, closes the door of diverse discussions.
If any Jewish historian can be trusted, it is the Pharisee Jew, Josephus. In this case, only the truth lies within his record of the last twenty eight high priests as concerning Jewish names.
Luke 1:3: "It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus."
Acts 1:1: "The former treatise [first account indeed - Greek text] have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach."
The name Theophilus is purely Jewish and highly regarded. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, book twenty, chapter seven, sections 6 and 7, lists the twenty eight high priests from King Herod the Great to the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 70. The high priest Ananus ruled twenty three years which was longer than any of the others. He had five sons who served as high priest and one son-in-law, Caiaphas. After his reign, he retained the title of high priest as an honorary accolade, because of his long tenure. Therefore, all subsequent high priests retained that title just as former presidents and governors. [Josephus, book twenty, chapter nine, footnotes]
From the appointment of Ananelus by King Herod to the destruction of Jerusalem:
1. Ananelus
2. Aristobulus
3. Jesus, the son of Fabus
4. Simon, the son of Boethus
5. Matthias, the son of Theophilus
6. Joazar, the son of Boethus
7. Eleazar, the son of Boethus
8. Jesus, the son of Sie
9. [Annas, as] Ananus, the son of Seth
10. Ismael, the son of Fabus
11. Eleazar, the son of Ananus
12. Simon, the son of Camithus
13. Josephus Caiaphas, the son-in-law to Ananus
14. Jonathan, the son of Ananus
15. Theophilus, his brother, and son of Ananus
16. Simon, the son of Boethus
17. Matthias, the brother of Jonathan, the son of Ananus
18. Aljoneus
19. Josephus, the son of Camydus
20. Ananias, the son of Nebedeus
21. Jonathas
22. Ismael, the son of Fabi
23. Joseph Cabi, the son of Simon
24. Ananus, the son of Ananus
25. Jesus, the son of Damneus
26. Jesus, the son of Gamaliel
27. Matthias, the son of Theophilus
28. Phannias, the son of Samuel
As to what position Theophilus held, I do not know. Thayer page 288, "The conjectures concerning his family, rank, nationality, are reviewed by (among others) Win. RWB. s.v.; Bleek on Lk.1:3; [B.D. s.v.]."
One thing is for certain; he was a Jew based on the names within the list of the twenty eight high priests.