No One Can Stand In His Way
2 Displays of Sovereign Grace
Aaron Lee | April 26, 2026 | FCBCW Children’s Worship | Acts 11-12
Introduction
God’s people have often seemed like they could be stopped. Religious leaders didn’t want Gentiles to be saved. A king put a disciple in prison.
So how does God still get what he wants?
Context
Grace is something we don’t deserve. Grace is a gift. Sovereign grace means God graciously accomplishes his purposes, and no one can stop him.
Our key verse says that the apostles would receive power and witness – power to proclaim and witness Jesus. We’re going to see God’s power in such a way that shows, that witnesses, he is real.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
We’re going to follow Peter, one of the apostles, and see two displays of God’s sovereign grace:
1. God grants repentance to the Gentiles
The first display of God’s sovereign grace is that God grants repentance to the Gentiles.
11 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order:
Peter was being criticized by Jews for fellowshipping with Gentiles. The Gentiles were breaking the customs of the Jews. Peter began to explain what had happened. This was his argument:
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Repentance is a turning away from sin. The Bible says that God grants repentance – it’s a gift to be able to repent. We see that God is Lord over our salvation.
Persecution would come. But we would also see Jews and Gentiles all coming to Jesus. They met and taught as the church, and at a city called Antioch is where the disciples were first called Christians.
Application
So, will you share the Gospel freely?
I sometimes think there is no way that some people will become Christians. But that is not true. It is God who gives the gift of repentance to whoever he wants. Share the gospel freely with everyone.
For my kids, I sometimes feel like their salvation is up to what I can do for them. At the end of the day, it is God who can grant them the gift of repentance. God sovereignly works through human means—preaching, prayer, repentance, and faith. Will you pray for your family and friends?
In chapter 11, no one could stop God's sovereign grace from reaching the Gentiles. In chapter 12, no king could stop God's servant or God's word from advancing.
2. God grants rescue to Peter from Herod the King
The second display of God’s sovereign grace is that God grants rescue to Peter from Herod the King.
Herod the king was persecuting the church. He killed James the brother of John. He arrested Peter, and put him in prison, four squads of soldiers to guard him – probably getting ready to be killed next.
Peter was kept in prison, and the church was praying for him. Look what happens:
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
God is sovereign over Peter’s rescue from beginning to end. Peter was sleeping. The chains fall off. Peter thought he was seeing a vision. The gate opens by itself.
Peter would go to where many disciples were praying. A servant girl named Rhoda would answer, and no one believed that it was actually Peter. They said she was out of her mind. She actually thought it was Peter’s angel. And he told them what happened – how the Lord had brought him out of prison. Herod searched for him and could not find him, and he ordered the guards to be put to death.
Later, Herod would have to deal with some people, and he would have pride. He would put on royal robes, sit on a throne, speak, and be called a god – but he would be struck down by an angel of the Lord because he did not give God the glory. The Bible even says he would be eaten by worms and breathe his last.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied. (Acts 12:24)
Application
So, will you trust and pray with faith?
Many times I don’t even pray for things, or I pray for things just because I’m supposed to – but I should be anticipating that God will answer the prayers. I should also not think that if I pray “harder” that God will answer.
The passage is clear that persecution will still come for Christians. But God will have the final say. We can pray for those who are persecuted. We can prepare ourselves by being strengthened by the word. And we can trust that God will take care of us in the end.
No power can triumph over the word of God (cf. 6:7; 13:49), and those who attempt to harm God’s people will in the end face judgment themselves. (ESV Study Bible)
The Gospel
There’s a phrase that Christians have said – the Word of God did the work. It’s interesting we see the word of God in both the beginning and end of our text today. The word of God carries the message of the gospel: Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and Jesus came back to life again.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God, not a result of works.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Big Idea
God is sovereign and no one can stand in his way.
Whether customs or kings, nothing can stop God’s plans for his people.
Notes
Adapted from More Than a Story by Sally Michael