from them, as a prisoner is freed from a dungeon, which is the image in 4:18, Jesus’ programmatic description of his entire ministry in fulfillment of the OT. See further the comments on ἄφεσις, “forgiveness, release” at 4:18. The forgiveness of sins is the cornerstone of the new creation Christ brings through his ministry of healing and preaching. John is a part of the larger Gospel proclamation of the Christ. “Forgiveness, release” (ἄφεσις) occurs at critical moments in the Lukan narrative: