What does Luke 4:19 mean?

On a visit to His hometown, Jesus is reading aloud from the prophet Isaiah (Luke 4:16–18). The passage in question (Isaiah 61:1–2) predicts the earthly ministry of the "Anointed One," also known as the Messiah. The prophecy speaks of care for the downcast (Matthew 5:3–12; Luke 14:13–14), freedom (John 10:10; Matthew 11:30), healing (Matthew 12:22–23; Luke 18:35), and rescue (Matthew 8:16). The phrase recorded here speaks of a celebratory announcement: that the time of God's salvation has arrived.

Jesus stops reading after the first phrase of Isaiah 61:2. This relates to His interpretation: that this part of the prophecy is being fulfilled at that very moment (Luke 4:20–21). Isaiah's prediction also speaks of Messiah bringing God's righteous vengeance—but those prophecies will wait until Christ's second coming (Revelation 19:11–16).

At first, the crowd will receive Jesus' teaching with optimism (Luke 4:22). However, as He speaks of God extending grace to Gentiles, they will turn violent (Luke 4:28–30).