Acts 10

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

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.

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:

Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

What does Acts 10:38 mean?

Explanation

Acts 10:38 is a verse in the New Testament of the Christian Bible that gives a succinct summary of Jesus of Nazareth's ministry, emphasizing his divine anointing, benevolent actions, and miraculous works.

The passage states that God "anointed" Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power, which refers to God's special endowment of Jesus with the divine presence and authority to carry out his mission.

The anointing with the Holy Ghost is indicative of God's approval and support for Jesus' ministry.

The verse goes on to say that Jesus "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil," implying that his works were not just miracles but also acts of liberation for those oppressed by evil forces.

The phrase "for God was with him" reinforces the idea that Jesus' acts were carried out through the direct involvement and partnership with God.

The literal sense of this verse emphasizes the active ministry of Jesus, characterized by doing good and providing healing.

In a deeper sense, the mention of the oppression by the devil implies a spiritual battle where Jesus is seen as a liberator, setting people free from spiritual bondage.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse from Acts is part of a speech given by Peter, one of Jesus' apostles, to the household of Cornelius,, a Roman centurion.

This event is significant as Cornelius was a Gentile, and Peter's entrance into a Gentile's house and his sharing of the Gospel with them mark a pivotal moment in the expanding Christian mission beyond Jews to include all nations.

The book of Acts was written by Luke, the same author of the Gospel according to Luke, and it is believed to be composed around 80-90 AD.

At that time, the early Christians were spreading the message of Jesus to a Greco-Roman world that was predominantly polytheistic and where the Jewish understanding of monotheism and Messianic expectations were misunderstood, thus, this simple summary of Jesus' life and work by Peter served as a powerful testimony and teaching tool.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Acts 10:38 encapsulates several key concepts of Christian belief:

Anointing with the Holy Spirit: This reflects the belief that Jesus was chosen and empowered by God. Anointing is a theme in the Old Testament as well, where kings and prophets were anointed as a sign of being set apart for God's purposes.
Jesus as healer: The allusion to healing acts connects Jesus to a tradition of divine healing present in many religious narratives and furthers the understanding of Jesus as a compassionate savior.
Oppression by the devil: This suggests a worldview that acknowledges the presence of evil spiritual forces at work in the world, which Jesus is depicted as overcoming through his divine mandate.
God's presence with Jesus: The phrase "for God was with him" unifies the ministry of Jesus with the will and presence of God, reinforcing the idea of the Trinity in which God the Father, Jesus (the Son), and the Holy Spirit are distinct yet coexist in unity.

Practical Applications

Emulation of Jesus: Followers are encouraged to emulate Jesus in doing good and aiding others, reflecting his compassion and service.
Spiritual Warfare: Believers can take comfort in the notion that, like Jesus, they are called to resist evil influences in their lives and to provide help to those who are afflicted.
Relying on God's Spirit: The text inspires Christians to seek God's anointing and empowerment in their own lives and ministries.

Cross-References

"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," (Luke 4:18).
"But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you," (Matthew 12:28).
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues," (Mark 16:17).

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words include:

"Anointed" (ἔχρισεν, echrise): This signifies being consecrated with oil, a common practice for designating a person for a particular divine mission or role. In the context of Jesus, it symbolizes the endowment with the Holy Spirit.
"Holy Ghost" (πνεῦμα ἅγιον, pneuma hagion): Often translated as Holy Spirit, it refers to the third person of the Trinity and the presence and power of God.
"Power" (δύναμιν, dynamis): This term implies not only strength but also the capacity to perform miracles or extraordinary acts.
"Oppressed" (καταδυναστευομένους, katadynasteuomenous): To be tyrannized or dominated, conveying a sense of being harshly controlled, in this case, by the devil.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient myths and religions, the concept of a divine figure empowered to do good and combat evil is not unique to Christianity.

Many mythologies include gods or heroes who battle against dark forces.

However, the Christian narrative distinguishes itself in making the divine human, Jesus being both fully God and fully man, walking among people and directly interacting with them.

Scientific Perspectives

While modern science does not validate the existence of supernatural beings such as devils or the miraculous healing described in the Bible, the intersection of science and faith can be appreciated in understanding the psychological and sociological effects of belief.

Many studies have shown that faith can contribute to mental well-being, and communities united by belief often exhibit strong support networks.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians offer insight into Acts 10:38:

John Calvin: He emphasizes the anointing of Jesus as fundamental to understanding his role as the Messiah and Mediator between God and humanity.
Matthew Henry: In his commentary, Henry sees the verse as evidence of Jesus' divine mission and his power to overcome all the works of the devil.
**N.T.

Wright**: As a more contemporary scholar, Wright speaks to the fact that this verse encapsulates the "upside-down" nature of God's Kingdom, where the anointed Savior engages in humble service and healing rather than conventional kingly behavior.

Acts 10

Acts 10

What does Acts 10:38 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 10:38 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?