Taylor Caldwell, in her book about Luke, Dear and Glorious Physician, tells how the gospel writer as a young boy sat near the window of his girlfriend, the daughter of a Roman tribune. Luke, in the story, a freed slave's son, really had no business in the courtyard of the tribune, no matter how he felt about his daughter.

As he stood there, leaning on a fountain in the courtyard, gazing toward the window of her room, he held in his hand a small, smooth stone. When the tribune noticed the boy he blurted out, "It is you, Lucanus!" The boy did not move. He did not move. He did not leap to his feet out of fear or respect. He simply sat there gazing, the stone in his hands. Finally he looked to the tribune and said, "I was praying for Rubria."

"You are praying for her? Well, she needs your prayer…