Acts 10 · Verse 38

Acts 10:38

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, King James Version

Acts 10:38 in other translations

BSB	how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
WEB	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.
ASV	even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
YLT	Jesus who is from Nazareth--how God did anoint him with the Holy Spirit and power; who went through, doing good, and healing all those oppressed by the devil, because God was with him;
DARBY	Jesus who was of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went through all quarters doing good, and healing all that were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
BBE	About Jesus of Nazareth, how God gave the Holy Spirit to him, with power: and how he went about doing good and making well all who were troubled by evil spirits, for God was with him.
Webster	That God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him.

What does Acts 10:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 10:36-38

36-38. the word ... sent unto the children of Israel--for to them (he would have them distinctly know) the Gospel was first preached, even as the facts of it took place on the special theater of the ancient economy. preaching peace by Jesus Christ--the glorious sum of all Gospel truth (1Co 1:20-22). he is Lord of all--exalted to embrace under the canopy of His peace, Jew and Gentile alike, whom the blood of His…

Read the full comment on Acts 10:36-38 →

Barnes' Notes

Verse 38. How God anointed, etc. That is, set him apart to this work, and was with him, acknowledging him as the Messiah. Mt 1:1.

With the Holy Ghost. Lk 4:19. The act of anointing the kings and priests seems to have been emblematic of the influences of the Holy Ghost. Here it means, that God communicated to him the influences of the Holy Spirit, thus setting him apart for the work of the Messiah. See Mt 3:16,17, Jn 3:34: "God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him."

And with power. The power of healing the sick, raising the dead, etc.

Who went about doing good. Whose main business it was to travel from place to place to do good. He did not go for applause, or wealth, or comfort, or ease, but to diffuse happiness as far as possible. This is the simple but sublime record of his life. This, in few, but most affecting words, tells us all about the Saviour. It gives us a distinct portrait of his character, as he is distinguished from conquerors and kings, and false prophets, and the mass of men.

And healing, etc. Restoring to health.

All that were oppressed of the devil. All that were possessed by him. Mt 4:23,24.

God was with him. God appointed him, and furnished by his miracles the highest evidence that he had sent him. His miracles were such that they could be wrought only by God.

(d) "anointed Jesus" Lk 4:18, Heb 1:9 (e) "who went about" Mt 12:15 (+) "healing" "curing" (f) "oppressed of the devil" 1Jn 3:8 (g) "for God was with him" Joh 3:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth - Here the apostle refers to Christ as the promised Messiah; for, as Messiah signifies the anointed one, and Christ has the same signification in Greek, and the Messiah, according to the prophets, and the expectation of the Jews, was to work miracles, Peter proclaims Jesus as the Messiah, and refers to the miracles which he wrought as the proof of it. This delicate, but forcible allusion is lost by most readers.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 10:34-43

Acceptance cannot be obtained on any other ground than that of the covenant of mercy, through the atonement of Christ; but wherever true religion is found, God will accept it without regarding names or sects. The fear of God and works of righteousness are the substance of true religion, the effects of special grace. Though these are not the cause of a man's acceptance, yet they show it; and whatever may be wanting…

Read the full comment on Acts 10:34-43 →

Acts 10:38 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424

τὸνton<the>G3588

ἀπὸapofromG575

Ναζαρέθ,NazarethNazareth,G3478

ὡςhōshowG5613

ἔχρισενechrisenanointedG5548

αὐτὸνautonHimG846

ὁho<the>G3588

θεὸςtheosGodG2316

πνεύματιpneumatiSpiritG4151

ἁγίῳhagiōwith HolyG40

καὶkaiandG2532

δυνάμει,dunameiwith power,G1411

ὃςhoswhoG3739

διῆλθενdiēlthenwent aboutG1330

εὐεργετῶνeuergetōndoing goodG2109

καὶkaiandG2532

ἰώμενοςiōmenoshealingG2390

πάνταςpantasallG3956

τοὺςtousthoseG3588

καταδυναστευομένουςkatadunasteuomenousbeing oppressedG2616

ὑπὸhupobyG5259

τοῦtoutheG3588

διαβόλου,diaboloudevil,G1228

ὅτιhotibecauseG3754

ὁho<the>G3588

θεὸςtheosGodG2316

ἦνēnwasG1510

μετ᾽met᾽withG3326

αὐτοῦ·autouHim;G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 10:38

Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
Acts 2:22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Isaiah 11:2
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
John 3:34
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Hebrews 1:9
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Psalms 45:7
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
John 3:2
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Matthew 12:28
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Acts 4:26-27
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Luke 3:22
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

God.
2:22; 4:27; Ps 2:2,6; *marg:
Ps 45:7; Isa 11:2; 42:1; 61:1-3; Mt 12:28; Lu 3:22; 4:18; Joh 3:34
Joh 6:27; 10:36-38; Heb 1:9
who.
2Ch 17:9; Mt 4:23-25; 9:35; 12:15; 15:21-31; Mr 1:38,39; 3:7-11
Mr 6:6,54-56; Lu 7:10-17,21-23; 9:56; 1Pe 5:8
healing.
Mr 5:13-15; 7:29,30; Lu 4:33-36; 9:42; Heb 2:14,15; 1Jo 3:8
for.
Joh 3:2; 10:32,38; 16:32

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 10:37
That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Acts 10:38
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 10:39
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Read all of Acts 10

Acts 10:38 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Cuanto á Jesús de Nazaret; cómo le ungió Dios de Espíritu Santo y de potencia; el cual anduvo haciendo bienes, y sanando á todos los oprimidos del diablo; porque Dios era con él.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	– Jésus qui était de Nazareth, comment Dieu l’a oint de l’Esprit Saint et de puissance, lui qui a passé de lieu en lieu, faisant du bien, et guérissant tous ceux que le diable avait asservis à sa puissance; car Dieu était avec lui;
German Elberfelder 1871	Jesum, den von Nazareth, wie Gott ihn mit Heiligem Geiste und mit Kraft gesalbt hat, der umherging, wohltuend und heilend alle, die von dem Teufel überwältigt waren; denn Gott war mit ihm.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Jesum a Nazareth: quomodo unxit eum Deus Spiritu Sancto, et virtute, qui pertransiit benefaciendo, et sanando omnes oppressos a diabolo, quoniam Deus erat cum illo.