Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 10:38

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Acts 10:38

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Acts 10:38

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"[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." — Acts 10:38 (ASV)

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth.—In the Greek structure, the name stands in apposition with the "word" in the two previous verses—Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him. The word "anointed" is used with distinct reference to the name of Christ in Acts 10:35, and assumes a knowledge of the facts connected with His baptism, as in Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:21–22, as the divine witness that that Name belonged rightfully to Him and to no other.

Healing all that were oppressed of the devil.—These words seem to us to refer specially to the works of healing performed on demoniacs, but were probably uttered with a wider range of meaning, as all disease was thought of as the work, directly or indirectly, of the great enemy. So Satan had bound the woman with a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11). So St. Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a messenger of Satan to buffet him (2 Corinthians 12:7).