While the term is found nowhere else in the NT (BDF §107 calls it a “classicism” of Luke) or in the LXX, it is frequently used by Hellenistic writers and “contributes to the formal and literary flavor of the preface” (Nolland, 1:6). It is one of Luke’s strategies for relating “his entire composition to a well-known literary introductory form” (Fitzmyer, 1:290–91).

ἐπιχειρέω

ἀνατάξασθαι

to organize in a series, to compose, to compile

διήγησιν

At issue is whether the διήγησιν is primarily that of the witnesses (i.e., an oral narrative) or whether the oral tradition becomes narrative through the literary efforts of the “many.” The literary context here strongly favors the latter because of the use of διήγησις for the ordered narrative presentation of events in a literary work (cf. Lucian, How to Write History, 55). The attention to order indicated by ἀνατάξασθαι is to be compared with the καθεξῆς, “in order,” claimed by Luke for his own effort.

πεπληροφορημένων

πληροφορέω plḗrophoréō; contracted plērophorṓ, fut. plērophorḗsō, from plḗrēs (4134), full, and phoréō (5409), to fill. To fulfill, thoroughly accomplish, equivalent to persuade fully, give full assurance. Found for the most part only in biblical and Patristic Gr. Trans.

(I) Of persons, pass., to be fully assured, persuaded (Rom. 4:21; 14:5; Sept.: Eccl. 8:11).

(II) Of things, to make fully assured, give full proof of, confirm fully. With the acc. (2 Tim. 4:5, “make full proof of thy ministry,” i.e., by fulfilling to the utmost all its duties); pass., to be fully established as true (Luke 1:1; 2 Tim. 4:17).