A. Law and salvation

On two occasions we are provided with casual, muted echoes of the intense debate surrounding the law in the Pauline era. The essential issue for Luke, as for Paul, was the relationship between keeping the law and receiving salvation. In Ac. 13:38–9 the following words are placed on the lips of Paul: ‘Let it be known to you therefore brethren that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone that believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.’ It has long been recognized that while these words echo Pauline language they do not express Pauline thought with any precision. The gist seems clear enough: there are things which the law of Moses cannot provide but which the gospel of Christ can. It is difficult to be more precise about the contrast, although in view of the virtual equivalence of ‘forgiveness of sins’ and ‘justification/exoneration’ — which has a Lucan rather than a Pauline ring to it (cf. Lk. 1:77; 14:37) — the contrast is probably to be found in this connection. That is, if is taken closely with the meaning is roughly as follows: ‘Through Jesus Christ forgiveness is offered from all sins, something which the law never offered.’