Acts 10:38 kjv
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Acts 10:38 nkjv
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Acts 10:38 niv
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Acts 10:38 esv
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Acts 10:38 nlt
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Acts 10 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 1:2 | Jesus giving commands to apostles through the Holy Spirit | Apostles chosen and commissioned by God's Spirit |
| Luke 3:22 | The Holy Spirit descending on Jesus at His baptism | Divine affirmation and equipping of Jesus |
| Luke 4:1, 14, 18 | Jesus, full of the Spirit, returning to Galilee and teaching | Jesus' ministry empowered by the Spirit |
| Isaiah 11:2 | The Spirit resting on the future Davidic King | Messianic prophecy of Spirit-filled leadership |
| Isaiah 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me…to proclaim liberty | Jesus' own declaration of His mission (quoting Isa) |
| Matthew 12:28 | Jesus casting out demons by the Spirit of God | Demonstrating God's kingdom through Spirit's power |
| John 3:34 | God gives the Spirit without measure to Him | Jesus' unique relationship with the Spirit |
| Acts 2:22 | Jesus, a man attested by God with miracles, wonders, and signs | Public validation of Jesus' divine identity |
| Acts 4:29-30 | Apostles praying for boldness and for God to heal through Jesus | Continuing demonstration of God's power through Jesus |
| Romans 15:19 | Christ working through the Spirit by the power of signs and wonders | Paul's affirmation of Spirit's power in ministry |
| 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 | Diversities of gifts of the Spirit given for the common good | God's diverse empowerments for His people |
| Hebrews 2:4 | God also testifying by signs and wonders, by various miracles | Divine authentication of God's message |
| 1 John 5:6 | Jesus came by water and blood, not by water only but by the Spirit | The Spirit’s role in Jesus' ministry and testimony |
| Psalms 45:7 | You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God | God's consecration of Jesus with the oil of joy |
| Genesis 50:24 | Joseph prophesied that God would visit them with the Spirit | God's future faithfulness through the Spirit |
| Zechariah 4:6 | Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD | The Spirit's power supersedes human ability |
| Matthew 4:23-24 | Jesus healing every sickness and disease among the people | Pervasive nature of Jesus’ healing ministry |
| Mark 5:30 | Jesus perceived power going out from Him | Jesus' inherent divine power manifestation |
| John 14:12 | Those who believe will do the works that Jesus did, and greater | The Spirit empowering believers to continue Jesus’ work |
| Acts 10:34-35 | God showed no partiality, but accepts whoever fears Him | The basis for extending salvation and Spirit's gifts |
| Acts 4:31 | The place was shaken where they were gathered with the Holy Spirit | The manifest power accompanying the Spirit’s presence |
| Acts 10:40 | God raised Jesus on the third day and made Him manifest | The ultimate vindication of Jesus by God |
Acts 10 verses
Acts 10 38 Meaning
This verse describes the empowering presence and work of God the Holy Spirit in Jesus' ministry. It highlights how God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power, enabling Him to perform good deeds, heal the sick, and demonstrate the reign of God on Earth. The focus is on Jesus as the one God established and equipped for His divine mission.
Acts 10 38 Context
This verse is part of Peter's pivotal speech to Cornelius and his household in Caesarea. Cornelius, a devout Gentile centurion, had a vision instructing him to send for Peter. Peter, having had his own vision about unclean animals and receiving divine instruction that "what God has made clean, do not call common," went to Cornelius's house. This event signifies a major shift in the early church, breaking down the barriers between Jew and Gentile by showing that salvation and the Holy Spirit are for all who believe in Jesus Christ. Peter's speech explains Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, emphasizing His divine authority and the inclusiveness of His message.
Acts 10 38 Word analysis
- And: Conjunction, connecting phrases and ideas, showing the flow of God's action.
- Jesus: The central figure, the Son of God.
- of Nazareth: Identifies His earthly origin, grounding His divine mission in a specific human life.
- how: In what manner, detailing the divine process.
- God: The divine source of all power and authority.
- anointed: (Greek: echrisen - ἔχρισεν) From khrío, meaning to rub, anoint, smear. This signifies being consecrated, appointed, and endowed with power and authority by God for a specific mission, as kings and priests were in the Old Testament.
- Him: Refers to Jesus.
- with: Indicates the instrument or means of the anointing.
- the Holy Spirit: The third person of the Trinity, directly involved in empowering Jesus' ministry.
- and: Conjunction, connecting two key elements of His endowment.
- with power: (Greek: dunamei - δυνάμει) From dúnamis, meaning inherent power, ability, might, strength, or miraculous capability. This refers to the operational force enabling Jesus' works.
- and: Conjunction.
- He: Refers to Jesus.
- went: (Greek: dielthon - διῆλθεν) Aorist participle of diéρχomai, meaning to go through, pass through, traverse. It emphasizes movement and engagement within the world.
- about: (Greek: dia - διά) Preposition meaning through, by means of, or throughout. Here, it suggests the domain or sphere of His activity.
- doing: (Greek: poión - ποιῶν) Present participle of poiéō, meaning to make, do, perform, act. It indicates continuous action and production of works.
- good: (Greek: agathá - ἀγαθά) Neuter plural of agathós, meaning good, beneficial, pleasing, virtuous. It refers to deeds that are inherently good and aligned with God's character and will.
- and: Conjunction.
- healing: (Greek: iasthai - ἰάσθαι) Present infinitive of iaomai, meaning to heal, cure, make whole. It signifies the restoration of health and well-being.
- all: Encompassing entirety.
- who: Relative pronoun, referring to any person.
- were: Verb indicating a state or condition.
- oppressed: (Greek: katedynasteuoménous - κατεδυναστευομένους) Present passive participle of katadunasteúō, meaning to rule over, oppress, exercise tyrannical power. This describes those suffering under demonic influence, sickness, or burdens that crippled them.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power": This phrase encapsulates the inauguration and empowerment of Jesus' public ministry by the Godhead. It is not merely a bestowal of gifts but a definitive commissioning, mirroring Old Testament anointings for service. The parallelism of the Spirit and power shows these two aspects are inseparable in Jesus' earthly work.
- "He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed": This describes the manifestation of God’s anointing. "Doing good" encompasses the entirety of beneficial actions, while "healing all who were oppressed" specifies a significant portion of His ministry, illustrating the practical results of the Spirit's power to liberate and restore. The use of "oppressed" broadens the scope beyond just physical ailments to include spiritual bondage or burdens.
Acts 10 38 Bonus section
The Greek word khríō (anointed) is the root of the word "Christ." Thus, to say God "anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit" is to say God made Jesus the "Christ" — the Messiah, the Anointed One, fully equipped for His saving work. The connection to Old Testament kings, prophets, and priests being anointed underscores Jesus' fulfillment of these roles. The specific phrase "healing all who were oppressed" can be linked to the prophetic declarations about the Messiah bringing restoration and liberty (Isaiah 61:1-3). Peter's speech here marks a watershed moment, showing the Spirit's work is now available to Gentiles who believe, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant that nations would be blessed through his offspring (Gen 22:18).
Acts 10 38 Commentary
Peter explains that Jesus' entire public ministry was directly initiated and sustained by God through the Holy Spirit's power. This wasn't just divine gifting, but a divinely ordained commission that enabled Jesus to act benevolently and perform restorative works, specifically freeing those under oppressive forces, whether sickness, demonization, or other burdens. This serves as powerful testimony to Jesus' identity and mission before Cornelius and his household, demonstrating that God’s saving grace extended to Gentiles. The emphasis is on God's active role in empowering Jesus, who then exercised that power compassionately and universally in His earthly work.