Holy Spirit, anointing of

“Anoint” means to set someone apart, to authorise and equip him or her for a task of spiritual importance. Jesus Christ is set apart by the work of the Holy Spirit for his ministry of preaching, healing and deliverance. The Holy Spirit sets Christians apart for their ministry in Christ's name.

Jesus Christ anointed by the Holy Spirit

The Messiah's anointing is predicted

Isaiah 61:1–3 “Messiah” means “anointed one”.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, to console the mourners in Zion — to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

The Spirit anoints Jesus Christ at the start of his ministry

Matthew 3:16 parallels Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32Acts 10:38

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.

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.

Jesus Christ declares his anointing

Luke 4:18–21 See also Isaiah 61:1–2

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The first Christians declare Jesus Christ's anointing

Acts 4:26–27

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’ In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.

Evidence pointing to the Spirit's anointing in Jesus Christ's ministry

See also Matthew 4:23–25, Matthew 7:28–29, Matthew 12:28; Luke 4:14–15, Luke 5:17, Luke 6:19, Luke 7:14–15

Believers anointed by the Holy Spirit

The Spirit anoints God's chosen people

2 Samuel 23:1–2 Samuel

Anointing enables Christians to stand firm

2 Corinthians 1:21–22

Anointing guards Christians against falsehood

1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27