What is the meaning of Acts 10:38? God anointed Jesus of Nazareth • Acts 10:38 begins, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth…”. The Father actively set apart His Son for public ministry. • “Jesus of Nazareth” roots the eternal Son in real time and space, fulfilling Micah 5:2’s promise that Messiah would rise from humble beginnings. • Luke 3:21-22 records the anointing moment at the Jordan: the Spirit descended “in bodily form like a dove,” and the Father’s voice affirmed His pleasure. • Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18 show that this anointing was long-prophesied: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news.” • Acts 4:27 calls Jesus “Your holy servant, whom You anointed,” underlining that the early church saw this event as literal history, not symbolism. with the Holy Spirit and with power • The anointing was not empty ritual; it brought the indwelling Spirit and divine power. • John 3:34 states, “For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.” • Acts 2:22 later summarizes Jesus’ life as “a Man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him.” • Power in Scripture always serves God’s purposes, never self-promotion—Philippians 2:7 shows Christ “emptied Himself” even while exercising that power. Jesus went around doing good • The verse continues, “and how Jesus went around doing good…”. His ministry was mobile and proactive. • Mark 1:38 quotes Jesus: “Let us go somewhere else… so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” • John 10:32: “I have shown you many good works from the Father.” • Practical outworking: – Teaching truth (Matthew 4:23) – Feeding the hungry (John 6) – Welcoming children (Mark 10:13-16) • Titus 2:14 calls believers to be “eager to do what is good,” following His example. healing all who were oppressed by the devil • Sickness and spiritual bondage are real enemies; Jesus confronted both. • Matthew 4:24 lists the diseases and demonic torments He cured. • Luke 13:16 identifies a crippled woman as one “whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years.” • 1 John 3:8 explains the mission: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” • No case was too hard—Mark 5:1-15 shows Legion’s deliverance, confirming total authority over evil. • Hebrews 2:14 adds that through death He would “destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.” because God was with Him • The closing phrase grounds everything: “because God was with Him.” • Nicodemus recognized this: “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him” (John 3:2). • Jesus Himself testified, “The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone” (John 8:29). • This presence is promised to us as well—Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always,” linking Christ’s past ministry to the church’s ongoing mission. summary Acts 10:38 paints a vivid, literal portrait of Jesus’ earthly work: the Father anointed the Son, the Spirit empowered Him, He traveled widely doing tangible good, broke satanic oppression through compassionate healing, and did it all in unbroken fellowship with God. The verse reassures believers that the same triune God still anoints, empowers, and remains “with” those who continue Christ’s mission of truth and mercy. |
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