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.
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth, х Ieesoun (G2424) ton (G3588) apo (G575) Nazareth (G3478), hoos (G5613) echrisen (G5548) auton (G846) ho (G3588) Theos (G2316).] - [`Concerning'] Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him
With the Holy Ghost - that is, at His baptism; thus visibly and audibly proclaiming Him Messiah, "The Lord's Christ." For it is not His unction for personal holiness at His incarnation that is here referred to-as many of the fathers and some moderns take it, who view this and similar statements more theologically than exegetically-but His solemn investiture with the gifts for His Messianic office, in which he presented Himself after His baptism to the acceptance of the people. (See the notes at Matthew 3:13-17, Remark 2, p. 15.)
And with power - the fruit of that glorious Anointing, who went about doing good, х euergetoon (G2109)] - diffusing beneficence; referring to the beneficent character of His mission in general, and all the features of it, but particularly (as appears by the next clause) to the beneficent character of all His miracles, which was their predicted character (Isaiah 35:5-6).
Healing all that were oppressed, х katadunasteuomenous (G2616)] - or 'tyrannized over.'
Of the devil - whether in the form of demoniacal possession, or more indirectly, as in her "whom Satan had bound with a spirit of infirmity eighteen years" (Luke 13:16); thus showing Himself the premised Redeemer from all evil.
For God was with him. Thus gently does the apostle rise to the supreme dignity of Christ, with which he closes, accommodating himself to the imperfect capacity of his audience to apprehend the things of the kingdom.