“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 10:38 (NLT)
This verse is a hinge in Peter’s message to Cornelius and his household. God is moving on purpose—sending angels to Peter and Cornelius to get them in the same place—because the good news is that important. And the good news isn’t limited to one people group: God doesn’t play favorites. He accepts anyone who fears him and does what’s right.
Peter connects the good news to something these people already knew about Jesus’ ministry that began in Galilee, after John preached baptism in water. Then there is a turning point: God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power. That’s what I see echoed in Matthew 3—Jesus comes up from the water, the Spirit descends like a dove and settles on him, and the Father affirms him. Jesus didn’t display God’s power until he received what the Father gave: the Holy Spirit.
And then Jesus tells his apostles in John 14 that anyone who believes will do the same works he did—and even greater—because he was going to the Father. He says the Father will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will never leave, and who will be in us. Acts 2:33 clarifies why that matters: Jesus is exalted, receives the promised Holy Spirit, and pours him out on us like they saw at Pentecost. This is why I can say it plainly today: there is no junior Holy Spirit.
I am burdened that this part of Peter’s message has been neglected, ignored, and preached against for too long. When I put Acts 10:38 together with Jesus’ commission in Mark 16, I hear an invitation and a warning. We’re called to go around doing good in Jesus’ name, praying for those oppressed by Satan, and expecting God to move—because God is with us today by the same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus. The real gap is our faith in God’s ability to work through us like he did through Jesus. Lord, I don’t want to try to do heaven’s work in my own strength. Give me faith to receive what you’ve offered, and the courage to use it.
It is so important to have the Holy Spirit to help you along your walk. It definitely needs to be preached and talked about more. Thanks for delivering this message.
Thanks for the encouragement, Kevin. Amen and amen!