This monograph is a revision of a thesis sustained in the University of Leeds in 1992: parts I and III have been substantially rewritten to take up some implications of the earlier work; part II, the heart of the argument, has been much shortened, so that its accent now falls on Luke's composition rather than on his redaction of sources. In part III, chapter 7 develops an earlier detached note into a fuller treatment of echoes of Wisdom in Luke's narrative of Jesus' passion, while chapter 8 reflects on ways in which the preceding chapters point to Luke's theology of the cross.

Many people have supported the writing of this book: my thanks are most particularly due to Dr J. Keith Elliott, who proved an ideal supervisor; to Professor I. Howard Marshall, Dr Margaret Thrall, the Monograph Series editor, and to the anonymous reader, all of whom offered detailed comment on this work in ways which disclosed much about the generous yet rigorous spirit of our discipline. Two friends have been particularly helpful: Mary Hayward, a colleague for fourteen years, not only first prompted the writing of the thesis, but, during its emergence and during that of this book, generously encouraged and practically supported both, reading and commenting on successive drafts; Dr W.H. Burns marked forty years of friendship by reading, discussing and commenting on much of this work. Sandra Huxley was an admirable librarian, swiftly producing innumerable articles and books.