The Unstoppable Grace of God

Claim

God’s unstoppable grace tears down every barrier to bring the gospel to all people through Christ.

This is the central theological truth of the passage.

Focus

Luke shows how the same Spirit who fell on Jewish believers at Pentecost now falls on Gentiles, proving that salvation is entirely God’s work and available to all who believe in Jesus.

This is what the sermon will show from the text.

Function

To move God’s people to rejoice in His sovereign grace, to repent of any pride or prejudice that limits the reach of the gospel, and to join gladly in His mission to bring all nations to Christ.

Sometimes God works in ways that completely surprise us. He moves faster than we expect, reaches people we’d never expect, and reminds us that His grace doesn’t fit neatly into our categories.

That’s what happens here in Acts 10 and 11. Peter has gone to the home of Cornelius — a Roman centurion, a Gentile, a man who feared God but was still an outsider. And as Peter preaches the good news of Jesus, something astonishing happens.

Before Peter even finishes his sermon, the Holy Spirit falls on the listeners. It’s Pentecost all over again — but this time in a Gentile house.

Luke wants us to see that this is the moment the gospel truly breaks beyond Jewish borders. It’s the climax of God’s promise to Abraham — that through his offspring, all nations on earth would be blessed. It’s the unstoppable grace of God, breaking through every barrier to bring people to Christ.

1. God’s grace breaks in (10:44–48)

The Spirit falls on the Gentiles as Peter preaches Christ.

Look at verse 44:

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.”

Peter hasn’t even reached his conclusion yet. There’s no invitation, no response song, no time for questions — God interrupts. The Spirit falls mid-sermon!

And Luke wants us to remember Pentecost in Acts 2. The same Spirit who came on Jewish believers in Jerusalem now comes on Gentile believers in Caesarea. This is not a different Spirit, nor a different gospel — it’s the same Christ pouring out His life-giving power on new people.

And notice how Luke describes it: “the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.” There’s no distinction. Not some, not a select few — all who heard and believed.

Here we see the doctrine of irresistible grace in action. The Word is preached, and the Spirit powerfully brings it home. Dead hearts are made alive, sinners are drawn to Christ, faith is born.

As Calvin says, “God, in giving His Spirit to the Gentiles, showed that their adoption was complete before any external sign.” This is salvation by grace alone.

The astonishment of the Jewish believers (v.45)

Verse 45:

“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.”

Even on Gentiles! That little phrase tells you everything about how shocking this was.

These Jewish Christians have categories for God working among their own people, but they’re not prepared for this. And yet God makes it unmistakable — the very same Spirit, the very same evidence.

This is not about a second-class conversion. They don’t receive part of the Spirit, or a lesser measure. They receive the same gift, because they have the same Saviour.

And for us, this is a wonderful reminder that there are no outsiders to God’s grace. There is no cultural, moral, or social barrier that can resist the call of God. The gospel is not limited to those who look like us, talk like us, or think like us. When the Spirit moves, He crosses boundaries we wouldn’t even dare to approach.

The confirmation of equality (v.46–47)

Verse 46:

“For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptised with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’”

The signs confirm what God has already done. They speak in tongues and praise God — just like at Pentecost. This is not random enthusiasm; it’s a visible testimony that God Himself has accepted them.

Peter immediately draws the conclusion: If God has given them His Spirit, how can we deny them baptism? How can we withhold outward fellowship when God has already given inward fellowship?

You can almost hear Peter’s logic: “Who are we to stand in the way of God?” He sees clearly that salvation is entirely God’s doing — His initiative, His timing, His choice.

That’s grace. And if you think about it, this reverses the normal human order. Usually, people are baptised after profession of faith and the Spirit’s work is confirmed afterward. Here, God flips it all — the Spirit comes first. It’s His way of saying: “I am doing something new — salvation is Mine from start to finish.”

The new fellowship (v.48)

Verse 48:

“So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”

That last sentence is beautiful. Peter stays with them. Eats with them. Lives among them.

A few verses earlier, Peter would never have done this. He had said in verse 28, “It is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.” But now he does. Why? Because grace has broken the walls down.

Ephesians 2 says that Jesus Himself “has destroyed the dividing wall of hostility.” And here we see that happening in real life.

So here’s the first truth:

When God’s grace breaks in, it breaks every boundary.

Grace brings unlikely people together — people who otherwise would never share a table, never share a story, never share a life.

2. God’s work is questioned (11:1–3)

The church wrestles with the wideness of grace.

Now as we turn to chapter 11, the scene shifts to Jerusalem. Word travels fast, as it always does.

Verse 1:

“The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.”

Wonderful news — you’d expect celebration! But instead, verse 2 says:

“So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticised him.”

The church in Jerusalem is not rejoicing; they’re worried. And what’s their complaint? Verse 3:

“You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

Notice — they don’t question the salvation, they question the social aspect. They’re more concerned about fellowship than faith. They’ve missed the magnitude of what God has done because they’re clinging to old boundaries.

And let’s not be too quick to judge them — because we can be the same. When God works in ways that unsettle our traditions or reach people we find difficult, our instinct can be suspicion rather than celebration.

Sometimes, the hardest barriers to break are not in the world but in the church. We say we believe in grace — but we still struggle when grace stretches our comfort zone.

Law and Grace

Theologically, this moment is huge. It shows the early church wrestling with the transition from the old covenant to the new.

Under the old covenant, the ceremonial law marked Israel out as distinct — clean versus unclean, circumcised versus uncircumcised. But in Christ, those ceremonial boundaries have been fulfilled and set aside.

Christ has made His people clean — not by diet or ritual, but by His blood. So to insist on the old rules now is to rebuild what Christ has already torn down.

That’s what’s at stake here. The gospel says salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Nothing added, nothing extra.

So when these believers criticise Peter, they’re actually struggling to accept the radical sufficiency of Christ’s work.

And we should ask ourselves: Where might we be doing the same? What cultural expectations, social norms, or personal preferences have we allowed to limit the reach of God’s grace?

3. God’s grace is recognised (11:4–18)

The people of God rejoice that salvation is for all nations.

Now Peter responds — and notice his wisdom. He doesn’t argue. He doesn’t accuse them of prejudice. He simply tells the story again.

Verse 4:

“Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story.”

And what a story it is. He recounts the vision he saw — the sheet coming down from heaven, the command to eat, the voice of the Lord saying, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” He tells them about Cornelius’ vision, the angel’s message, the Spirit’s command to go. At every point, Peter emphasises that this was God’s doing.

In verse 12:

“The Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction.”

That’s the phrase that changes everything — no distinction. The same gospel, the same grace, the same Spirit for Jew and Gentile alike.

The Spirit’s confirmation (v.15–17)

Peter continues:

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.”

Again, he points back to Pentecost — the benchmark for the Spirit’s outpouring. This is not a lesser version; this is Pentecost, now extended to the nations.

Then he recalls Jesus’ words (v.16):

“John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”

Peter recognises that Christ Himself is fulfilling His promise. It’s not about Peter’s obedience; it’s about Christ’s ongoing work through His Spirit.

And verse 17 sums it all up beautifully:

“So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

That’s the key line in the whole passage. Who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?

Peter sees clearly that this is God’s sovereign act of grace. He didn’t initiate it. He didn’t plan it. He just witnessed it — and realised that God’s grace cannot be contained.

That’s the essence of Reformed theology right there: salvation belongs to the Lord. It is His sovereign will, His gracious gift, His unstoppable purpose.

The church’s joyful response (v.18)

Finally, verse 18:

“When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’”

What a turning point! Criticism turns to praise. Division turns to delight.

And notice what they say: “God has granted repentance.” They recognise that repentance itself is a gift — not something we produce, but something God gives.

It’s the same truth Paul will later express in 2 Timothy 2:25 — “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.” Repentance is not our contribution to salvation; it’s part of God’s saving grace.

The church has learned a vital lesson: Grace is not limited by heritage or human effort. God is the one who grants life — freely, sovereignly, joyfully.

Drawing It Together: The Unstoppable Grace of God

So, what do we see when we put all this together?

God’s grace is sovereign — it’s His initiative from start to finish. While Peter is still speaking, the Spirit falls. While Cornelius is still an outsider, God is already at work in his heart. While the Jerusalem church is still debating, God has already decided — the gospel is for all nations.

Grace moves first. Grace acts decisively. Grace always gets its way.

And when God acts in grace, He not only changes individuals — He changes His church. The Spirit doesn’t just save Cornelius; He reshapes Peter. He doesn’t just reach a Gentile household; He redefines what the people of God look like.

That’s why Peter’s question in verse 17 is so powerful:

“Who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

It’s one of the most humbling sentences in the whole book of Acts. Because here’s the truth — it’s possible to be orthodox, moral, active in ministry, and still find ourselves standing in the way of what God is doing. Not through open rebellion, but through quiet resistance — clinging to our comfort zones, our categories, our cultural preferences. But God’s grace will not be boxed in. He tears down every wall that separates sinners from Himself — and sometimes every wall we’ve built between ourselves and others.

Grace That Breaks Barriers and Brings Worship

This passage isn’t just history — it’s theology in motion. It’s Romans 3:29 lived out:

“Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too.”

It’s Ephesians 2 in real life:

“He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the dividing wall of hostility.”

When grace comes, it doesn’t simply forgive sins — it rearranges our world. It pulls down barriers between races, classes, backgrounds, personalities, and traditions, and says, “You are all one in Christ Jesus.”

And notice how the story ends in verse 18:

“When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God.”

Grace has done its work. The objections cease, the arguments fade, and worship begins. That’s always the true sign that we’ve understood grace — we stop comparing, stop controlling, and start praising. We stop saying, “But what about them?” and start saying, “Praise God — even to them, He has granted repentance and life!”

Grace That Centres on Christ

And all of it — every surprise, every conversion, every breaking barrier — centres on Jesus. It is He who was crucified to reconcile us to God. It is He who rose to pour out His Spirit on His people. It is He who grants repentance that leads to life.

Remember Peter’s sermon just before the Spirit fell, in 10:43:

“Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

That’s the foundation of everything that happens next. The Spirit doesn’t fall in a vacuum — He falls where Christ is preached. Because the Spirit’s work is always to glorify the Son in the salvation of sinners.

Cornelius didn’t need to become Jewish — he needed to believe in Jesus. Peter didn’t need to change his diet — he needed to see the sufficiency of Jesus. And the church didn’t need a new policy on Gentiles — it needed a new grasp of Jesus’ lordship.

So when Peter says, “Who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”, he’s really saying, “Who am I to limit the power of Christ’s cross?” If the blood of Jesus has been shed for all nations, who are we to withhold the gospel from any of them?

Grace That Calls Us to Join In

And friends, that’s where the passage lands for us. If this story is about God’s unstoppable grace, then the question is: Will we join in, or will we stand in the way?

Where might God be stretching us beyond our comfort zones? Who are the “Corneliuses” around us — the people we’ve quietly assumed are out of reach? Perhaps they don’t fit our background, or share our values, or speak our language. But God’s grace is bigger than our categories.

The same Spirit who fell on Cornelius still falls on unlikely people today. He saves those we’d never expect. He brings in those we might overlook. He breaks into hearts that have been hard for years. He draws near to those who seem farthest from Him.

So instead of resisting, we rejoice. Instead of criticising, we celebrate. Instead of standing in the way, we stand in awe. Because when grace truly grips your heart, it makes you generous, humble, and open-handed with the gospel.

Grace That Gives Glory

And so, the story ends not with Peter’s vindication, but with God’s glorification.

“When they heard this, they praised God.” (11:18)

The first great Gentile conversion ends in worship — and that’s the true goal of mission. Not numbers. Not strategy. Not recognition. But praise.

Grace always leads to glory. It begins with God, works through His people, and returns to Him in worship.

From a Jewish living room in Jerusalem to a Roman household in Caesarea to a heavenly multitude around the throne — the direction of Acts is always outward and upward:

“A great crowd from every nation, tribe, people, and language, crying out, ‘Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb!’”

The same Spirit who broke down walls then is still doing it now — uniting His people in one gospel, one baptism, one Spirit, one Lord.

Closing Exhortation

So let’s finish with Peter’s question ringing in our ears:

“Who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

What might that look like for us? Sometimes standing in God’s way looks like indifference — assuming mission is for someone else. Sometimes it looks like fear — afraid to speak, afraid to step across a line. Sometimes it looks like prejudice — quietly believing that some people are too far gone.

But the good news of Acts 10–11 is that God’s grace is greater than all our resistance. He overrules our hesitation. He opens our eyes to His plan. And He draws us in to share His heart for the world.

So let’s not stand in His way. Let’s stand with Him — in awe, in obedience, and in joy. Let’s pray that His Spirit would fall again — on our homes, our town, our neighbours — and that we would be ready to welcome all whom He calls.

Because when grace breaks in, it breaks every boundary. When grace offends, we must check our hearts, not His work. And when grace is recognised, the only fitting response is praise.

Final Words

God’s unstoppable grace tears down every barrier to bring the gospel to all people through Christ. That’s what He did in Caesarea. That’s what He’s still doing today. And one day, that unstoppable grace will reach its glorious goal — when every tribe and tongue bows before the Lamb who was slain, and together we sing:

“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father — to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 1:5–6)