For the sake of this study, the Gospel of Luke plays an important role in establishing the identity of community members. In fact, «without the Gospel of Luke our visual images of Christian history would be impoverished» because «the Gospel of Luke [can be considered] the aesthetic master of the Christian senses in hearing and in speech through story and song and in sight through the multiple artistic interpretations of his stories”. Luke accomplishes this feat by using cultural conventions surrounding hospitality and feasting to “illustrate important aspects of Jesus' teaching such as generosity towards the poor, forgiveness of sinners, humility rather than social power, and the priority given to word of God." The importance of community is established from the beginning of Luke's Gospel when it becomes clear that God's intention is the formation of a people and not the salvation of individuals. Gabriel's announcement regarding the birth of John the Baptist to Elizabeth is that his mission will be to "prepare a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17) and Mary's Magnificat seems to have the salvation of Israel as its primary focus. The disciples that Jesus had accumulated during his ministry will become the "core" of the new people who will finally recognize him as king when he enters Jerusalem (Lk 19.37). However, it is only with the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2) that this new community becomes more easily identifiable. The community in Luke's gospel is also colored by the introduction in which Theophilus (“beloved of God”) is called “the greatest excellent” (kariste). This term was commonly used to refer to the Roman equestrian class who were members of the wealthy aristocracy inferior to the patricians, but superior to the populous. Perkins argues... at the center of the article... then is balanced by two positive injunctions (forgive and give).[Nolland, 300] The reality is that no person would be able to survive God's scrutiny without mercy ( see 36). We must therefore forgive and give (v. 38). Forgiveness is the forfeiture of the right to demand restitution for a wrong committed. Not only are disciples called to this forgiveness, but they are also called to offer “open-handed generosity to the other person.” womb of the disciple.[Nolland, 301] This is the agrarian image of the fulfillment of grain contracts that are achieved by filling bags (and aprons, in this case) with grain. During this process, the image is that of the grain overflowing even though it has already been tamped to fit as much as possible in the container.[Nolland, 301]