It could be a real person.
But most biblical scholars will tell you that it is addressed in this way because
Theo=God
Philus=lover (Philadephia, city of love, for example)
So are Luke’s Gospel and the book of Acts addressed to ALL of us? I think so.
You beat me to it.
>> “So are Luke’s Gospel and the book of Acts addressed to ALL of us? I think so.” <<
.
Absolutely!
"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, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed." (Luke 1:3-4)
"The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs [tekmērion=that from which something is surely and plainly known-Thayer], being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" (Acts 1:1-3 - KJV)
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." (2 Peter 1:16)
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:20-21)