For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Something to bear in mind when reading the Bible. And Luke actually declares this in his writing..his book is an historical document. It is in the historical record. Most historians do not have access to eye witnesses of the life of Jesus, Luke did. In fact he was a a contemporary to much of what he wrote about.
To consider the life of Palestine in the 1st century AD and not consider the Bible and specifically the book of Luke a resource worthy of study is malpractice.