Acts 10 38

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 verses

Acts 10 38 Meaning

Acts 10:38 summarizes the profound ministry of Jesus, asserting that God Himself divinely empowered Jesus of Nazareth through the Holy Spirit, granting Him miraculous power. This anointing enabled Jesus to lead a life of active benevolence, consistently performing good deeds and providing healing to all individuals who were under the oppressive influence of the devil. This effective and compassionate work was made possible because God was continuously present and intimately working with Him.

Acts 10 38 Context

Acts 10:38 is a foundational statement within Peter's pivotal sermon to Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and his household. This address marks a significant turning point in the early church, initiating the explicit inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian faith. Prior to this, Peter experienced a divine vision compelling him to set aside Jewish dietary and purity laws, and to minister to Gentiles without partiality (Acts 10:9-16, 34-35). His sermon serves as a concise summary of the gospel message, designed to introduce these non-Jewish hearers to Jesus Christ. After affirming God's impartiality, Peter begins recounting the life and works of Jesus, from His anointing and ministry in Galilee, to His crucifixion, resurrection, and the apostles' eyewitness testimony (Acts 10:36-41). Verse 38 specifically outlines the nature and source of Jesus' public ministry, setting the stage for the good news of salvation. Historically, "Jesus of Nazareth" often carried a connotation of humble, even despised, origin (Jn 1:46). However, Peter presents this Jesus, from a humble place, as profoundly empowered by God, a powerful theological statement about God choosing what is seemingly low to confound the wise, while challenging the exclusivity of Jewish covenant beliefs. The original audience would understand "anointing" in the context of Old Testament figures like kings, priests, and prophets being divinely commissioned and empowered, but applied to Jesus, it defines His messianic role, now for all peoples.

Acts 10 38 Word analysis

• how (ὡς - hōs): A conjunction here, indicating the manner or way in which something occurred. It emphasizes how God worked through Jesus, rather than just stating that He worked.
• God (ὁ Θεὸς - ho Theos): The definite article "ho" emphasizes the unique, singular God. This points to the sovereign, ultimate source of all power and initiative behind Jesus' ministry, not just Jesus' independent action.
• anointed (ἔχρισεν - echrisen): From the verb chriō (χρίω), meaning "to smear with oil, to anoint." Spiritually, it signifies being divinely consecrated, commissioned, and empowered for a special purpose. This is the root of Christos (Χριστός), "Christ," meaning "Anointed One." The Aorist tense (ἔχρισεν) points to a specific, completed event—likely referring to Jesus' baptism (Matt 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:22; Jn 1:32) when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him.
• Jesus (Ἰησοῦν - Iēsou): The Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua, meaning "Yahweh saves." This is Jesus' human name, emphasizing His earthly identity and humanity.
• of Nazareth (τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ - ton apo Nazaret): A geographical descriptor tying Jesus to His specific, and often looked-down-upon, hometown. This underscores His real historical rootedness and humble background. It prevents mistaking Him for an abstract figure.
• with the Holy Spirit (Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ - Pneumati Hagiō): Pneuma (Πνεῦμα) refers to the Spirit, breath, or wind; Hagiō (Ἁγίῳ) means "holy" or "sacred." This indicates the divine Person (the third person of the Trinity) through whom the anointing and power were bestowed. It signifies a unique, supernatural endowment of divine presence and energy.
• and with power (καὶ δυνάμει - kai dunamei): Dunamis (δύναμις) refers to inherent strength, capability, or miraculous power. It is the direct result or manifestation of the Holy Spirit's anointing. This is not just moral influence but tangible, demonstrable supernatural force that produced the good works and healings.
• who went about (ὃς διῆλθεν - hos diēlthen): From dierchomai (διέρχομαι), meaning "to pass through, go throughout." It conveys an active, itinerant ministry, showing Jesus was not static but continually moving and engaging with people in various places.
• doing good (εὐεργετῶν - euergetōn): From euergeteō (εὐεργετέω), "to be a benefactor, do good." The present participle implies continuous, habitual action. This highlights the benevolent, positive nature of His actions, encompassing a wide range of compassionate deeds beyond just physical healing.
• and healing (καὶ ἰώμενος - kai iōmenos): From iaomai (ἰάομαι), "to heal, cure, restore to health." Also a present participle, indicating continuous activity. This focuses specifically on the physical and sometimes mental/emotional restoration of health.
• all who were oppressed (πάντας τοὺς καταδυναστευομένους - pantas tous katadynasteuomenous):
  • all (πάντας - pantas): Universal scope; not just a few, but everyone under this particular influence.
  • oppressed (καταδυναστευομένους - katadynasteuomenous): From katadynasteuō (καταδυναστεύω), a strong verb meaning "to exercise dominion against, oppress tyrannically, enslave." It suggests a forceful, overwhelming, and continuous subjugation, portraying a state of suffering and bondage, rather than mere temptation or influence. This indicates a deeply entrenched struggle.
• by the devil (ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου - hupo tou diabolou): Diabolos (διάβολος), meaning "slanderer, accuser," and identifying Satan. This explicitly attributes the oppression and suffering to the direct or indirect work of this spiritual adversary. It grounds the "oppression" in a cosmic spiritual battle, not merely human illness or misfortune.
• for (ὅτι - hoti): A conjunction introducing the reason or explanation. It clarifies why Jesus was able to perform such a ministry.
• God was with him (ὁ Θεὸς ἦν μετ’ αὐτοῦ - ho Theos ēn met' autou): This declares the continuous, intimate, and affirming presence of God the Father with Jesus throughout His ministry. This divine partnership was the ultimate source and guarantee of Jesus' authority, anointing, and effective power, validating His every action.

Words-group Analysis

• "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power": This phrase details Jesus' divine authorization and equipment for ministry. It reveals the triune involvement in Jesus' earthly work: God the Father initiating, the Holy Spirit empowering, and Jesus the Son receiving the anointing for His mission. It links the Messiah's role directly to the Spirit's endowment.
• "who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil": This describes the scope and impact of Jesus' active ministry. "Went about" emphasizes His tireless, compassionate, and itinerant nature. "Doing good" encompasses His teaching, care, and compassion. "Healing all who were oppressed by the devil" pinpoints a major aspect of His power as direct spiritual warfare, demonstrating His authority over satanic forces manifested in various forms of human suffering.
• "for God was with him": This serves as the overarching theological explanation and ultimate validation. Jesus' ability to carry out His divine commission, marked by miraculous power and beneficent actions against spiritual darkness, stemmed from the constant and profound presence of God the Father working through Him. This underlines His unique relationship and dependence on the Father.

Acts 10 38 Bonus section

• Christ's Humility and Power: The phrase "Jesus of Nazareth" often brought to mind a humble origin (Jn 1:46). Yet, this verse directly contrasts that societal perception with the profound reality of His divine anointing and power, highlighting how God works through seemingly unimpressive channels.
• Messianic Fulfillment: This verse beautifully illustrates the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, who would come anointed by the Spirit to heal, proclaim freedom, and destroy the works of the devil (e.g., Isa 61:1-3, Gen 3:15).
• Model for Ministry: While unique in scope, Jesus' Spirit-empowered ministry of doing good and confronting evil serves as a foundational paradigm for believers today. Though not identical in authority or power, Christians are also called to be filled with the Spirit, do good works, and participate in spiritual warfare against evil, reflecting Christ's mission in the world (Gal 6:10, Eph 6:10-18).
• The Scope of "Oppression": "Oppressed by the devil" (καταδυναστευομένους ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου) suggests a broader impact than just outright demonic possession. It speaks to any heavy subjugation or tyranny of the devil, including spiritual blindness, illness that can be spiritually rooted, fear, and other forms of human suffering that originate from the domain of darkness. Jesus' ministry addressed the pervasive evil influencing humanity.

Acts 10 38 Commentary

Acts 10:38 offers a concentrated theological declaration of Jesus' public ministry. It portrays Jesus not merely as a moral teacher or a spiritual leader, but as the Anointed One (Christ) of God, specially designated and equipped by the Holy Spirit. This anointing, evidenced most clearly at His baptism, endowed Him with extraordinary power (dynamis) — the inherent ability to accomplish God's will. Peter succinctly captures Jesus' life as an active campaign of doing good, a holistic term encompassing all His benevolent actions, and healing specifically, which often addressed suffering linked to physical, mental, and spiritual ailments. The identification of those oppressed by the devil clarifies the profound spiritual dimension of human suffering and illness, positing a direct antagonism from evil forces against which Jesus stood as the divine Liberator. The ultimate bedrock of Jesus' effectiveness, however, is presented as God's continuous, intimate presence with Him. This signifies divine approval, partnership, and power, confirming Jesus' messianic credentials and His role as the ultimate expression of God's benevolent will on earth. It highlights a Christocentric mission of liberation from spiritual darkness through divine empowerment.