Section 8
the time when God would accept the returned captives of sin (Isa. 49:8; 2 Cor. 6:2) and when the oppressed under the bondage of sin would enjoy the release of God's salvation.
In Luke 4:18 and 19 the Man-Savior pro claims the jubilee of grace. This indicates that He began His ministry by proclaiming the jubi lee of grace. The term "the acceptable year of the Lord" denotes the jubilee described in Levit icus 25. According to this chapter, the year of jubilee was a time when slaves were released and property was returned to the rightful owners. Hence, the year of jubilee was a year of release, freedom, and return of lost property. Those who had been sold into slavery were released during the year of jubilee.
The year of jubilee was the fiftieth year, the conclusion of a half century. Thus, according to the book of Leviticus, at the end of every half century there was to be a year called the year of jubilee and also called the acceptable year. The acceptable year signifies the year for the Lord to accept people. In chapter sixty-one of Isaiah there is a prophecy concerning the fulfillment of this jubilee.
It is not likely that before Luke 4 the Jews un derstood Isaiah's word concerning the acceptable