Sermons on Acts 4:27-28

Acts 4:27-28 Interpretation:

Creating a Legacy of Bible Saturation in Ministry (Desiring God) interprets Acts 4:27-28 as a paradigmatic example of a “concept creation” moment, where the Bible presents a category foreign to most human thinking: that God can govern and predestine even the sinful acts of men (Herod, Pilate, the mob) without Himself being the author of sin. The sermon uses the analogy of “concept creation” versus “contextualization,” arguing that children (and adults) need entirely new mental categories to grasp how God’s sovereignty and human responsibility coexist. The preacher highlights the unintelligibility of this to the natural mind and insists that only the Spirit can create the conceptual framework to accept that God rules over all, including sin, without Himself sinning.

God's Sovereignty: Triumph Over Obstacles and Opposition (Desiring God) interprets Acts 4:27-28 as the clearest biblical statement that God not only overcomes but actually predestines and plans human sin and satanic opposition for the advancement—and even the creation—of the gospel. The sermon uses the metaphor of God “jerking Satan’s leash” and orchestrating the actions of all the antagonists in the crucifixion, not merely permitting but actively planning them. This interpretation is notable for its emphasis on the cross as the event where God’s sovereignty over evil is most manifest, and for its assertion that God’s predestining of evil is not limited to “getting over” obstacles but includes using them as the very means of salvation.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Free Will (Desiring God) provides a philosophical and exegetical interpretation, focusing on the compatibility of divine sovereignty and human responsibility as seen in Acts 4:27-28. The sermon uses the analogy of “dual explanations” (God’s intention and human intention) for the same event, and draws on the Greek and Hebrew linguistic details (e.g., the use of “predestined” and the parallel with Genesis 50:20’s “meant it for good”). The preacher insists that the passage demonstrates that God’s predestining will and human free, responsible actions are not mutually exclusive, even if the mechanism is mysterious to us. This is presented as a unique “category” of causation, distinct from any creature-to-creature relationship.

Understanding God's Sovereignty and Our Salvation Journey (Desiring God) interprets Acts 4:27-28 as a foundational text for understanding how God can ordain sinful actions without Himself being sinful. The sermon uses the cross as the ultimate example: God predestined the sinful acts of Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel in the crucifixion of Jesus, yet God Himself did not sin. The preacher insists that Christians must develop a theological category for God ordaining sin without being the author of sin, or else the cross and salvation itself become incoherent. This interpretation is distinguished by its insistence on the necessity of this category for Christian theology and its repeated use of the term "ordain" and "predestine" to describe God's relationship to evil acts.

Trusting God's Sovereignty in Suffering and Sacrifice (Desiring God) offers a unique analogy by connecting the predestined suffering of Christ in Acts 4:27-28 to the suffering of modern Christians, especially missionaries and those who endure tragedy. The sermon draws a direct line from the predestined evil of the cross to the predestined suffering in believers' lives, arguing that if God can ordain the greatest evil for the greatest good, then all suffering in the Christian life is also purposeful and not wasted. The preacher emphasizes that God's sovereignty over evil is not passive but active, and that the cross is the clearest demonstration of this. The analogy of the cross as the "script" for all suffering is a notable interpretive move.

Finding Hope in Christ Amidst Suffering and Death (Desiring God) interprets Acts 4:27-28 as evidence that the suffering and death of Christ were not accidents but were divinely intended from before the foundation of the world. The sermon uses the analogy that the world is the "stage" for Christ's suffering, suggesting that the existence of pain and death is necessary so that Christ could enter into it and redeem it. This perspective is unique in its cosmic framing: the world’s brokenness exists so that Christ could suffer and die within it, making the cross the climax of all history.

God's Sovereignty in Trials and Suffering (Desiring God) interprets Acts 4:27-28 as the Bible’s most explicit statement about God’s sovereign rule over sinful activity without Himself being a sinner. The sermon highlights the linguistic detail that the actors in Jesus’ death (Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, Israel) were gathered to do “whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place,” emphasizing the dual agency of God’s predestination and human (and satanic) evil. The preacher uses the analogy of a thorn in the flesh (from Paul’s life) to illustrate how God can use even satanic intent for His sanctifying purposes, paralleling the cross.

The Necessity of Christ's Suffering for Salvation (Desiring God) interprets Acts 4:27-28 as proof that the specific, public, and horrific sufferings of Christ were not only foreknown but predestined by God. The sermon uniquely focuses on the Greek term for “predestined” and the necessity of the cross being public, agonizing, and intentional, not merely a private or accidental death. The preacher argues that the details of Christ’s suffering were “scripted” by God, and that this scripting is essential for understanding the necessity and sufficiency of Christ’s atonement.

Embracing Suffering: Glorifying God Through Trials (Desiring God) offers a distinctive interpretation of Acts 4:27-28 by emphasizing the paradox that God predestined the sinful actions of Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the peoples of Israel to bring about the crucifixion of Jesus, yet God Himself remains utterly holy and without sin. The sermon uses vivid narrative detail—describing how each group sinned against Jesus—to highlight the complexity of divine sovereignty: God "wills that sin be without sinning," orchestrating even the gravest evil for redemptive purposes. This interpretation is notable for its insistence that God governs the sins of others for a greater salvific plan, and for its careful distinction that God is not the author of sin, even as He ordains its occurrence for good.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Desiring God) provides a unique linguistic and theological insight by focusing on the Greek construction in Acts 4:27-28, particularly the phrase "to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." The sermon draws a parallel to Genesis 50:20, noting that the same verb for "meant" or "intended" is used both for human and divine agency, thus arguing that God does not merely use evil after the fact but actively intends and predestines it for good. The preacher lingers on the weight of this, insisting that the cross is the ultimate example of God’s providence: God planned the worst sin in history (the crucifixion) for the greatest good (salvation), and this is not a passive or reactive use of evil but a sovereign, purposeful ordaining.

God's Sovereignty: Joseph's Journey from Betrayal to Redemption (Desiring God) interprets Acts 4:27-28 as the New Testament’s clearest statement that God is sovereign over the sinful actions of men, not just in permitting them but in predestining them for redemptive ends. The sermon uses the analogy of Joseph’s story—where God “meant” the brothers’ evil for good—to argue that the same principle is at work in the crucifixion: the evil intent of Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and Israel was simultaneously God’s intent for salvation. The preacher is careful to distinguish between God’s holy intent and human culpability, and insists that random evil saves no one; only divinely governed evil, as at the cross, brings redemption.

Divine Gifts: Understanding Life Through Assisted Reproduction (Desiring God) offers a unique analogy by connecting the conception of children through IVF—even in morally ambiguous or sinful circumstances—to the crucifixion of Christ as described in Acts 4:27-28. The sermon interprets the passage as the ultimate example of God using the evil intentions and actions of humans (Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, Israelites) to accomplish his predestined, redemptive plan. The analogy is that if God can bring about the greatest good (salvation) through the greatest evil (the crucifixion), then he can also bring about the creation of life—even through ethically complex or sinful means. This interpretation is notable for its application of the passage to the ethics of modern reproductive technology, framing God’s sovereignty as transcending human sinfulness in both ancient and contemporary contexts.

God's Sovereignty: Turning Evil into Good (Desiring God) provides a detailed linguistic and theological analysis, drawing a direct parallel between Genesis 50:20 and Acts 4:27-28. The sermon highlights that the same Greek (and Hebrew, in the Genesis text) verb for “meant” or “planned” is used for both God and the human actors, emphasizing that God’s intentionality is not merely reactive (“using” evil after the fact) but proactive and sovereign (“planning” the very events, including evil ones, for good). The preacher distinguishes between God’s holy willing and human sinful willing, using the metaphor of “two hands” (God’s and man’s) acting in the same event but with different intentions. This interpretation is unique in its insistence on the simultaneity and distinction of divine and human agency, and in its careful attention to the original language.

God-Centered Ministry: Instilling Deep Truths in Children (SermonIndex.net) interprets Acts 4:27-28 as a “category of thought” that is unintelligible to most people without spiritual transformation: namely, that God can govern sin without himself sinning, and that he was “totally in charge of the crucifixion of Jesus.” The sermon uses the analogy of “concept creation” in children’s ministry, arguing that teaching this passage requires not just contextualizing but actually creating new mental categories in listeners—especially children—so they can grasp the paradox of God’s sovereignty over evil. This is a novel pedagogical approach, treating the passage as a test case for the limits of human understanding and the necessity of spiritual illumination.

God's Providence: Faith and Commitment in Ruth (SermonIndex.net) interprets Acts 4:27-28 as the clearest biblical example of the intersection between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. The sermon emphasizes that the passage shows how God’s “hand” and “counsel” determined the crucifixion, yet the human actors (Judas, Herod, Pilate, the crowds) remain fully responsible for their actions. The preacher uses the metaphor of “two hands”—God’s and man’s—working together, but with different motives and outcomes. This interpretation is notable for its application to the theme of providence in everyday life, using the passage as a lens for understanding how God works through ordinary and even sinful events to accomplish salvation.

Acts 4:27-28 Theological Themes:

Glorying in the Cross: Prayer and Salvation (MLJTrust) introduces the theme of the cross as the ultimate test of Christian faith, arguing that one’s view of the cross—specifically, its predestined nature and divine authorship—is the “acid test” of true Christianity. The sermon also develops the theme that God’s justice, holiness, and love converge at the cross, where He punishes sin in Christ so that He can remain just while justifying sinners. This is a nuanced expansion of penal substitution, rooted in the predestined nature of the event.

Creating a Legacy of Bible Saturation in Ministry (Desiring God) presents the theme of “concept creation” as a theological necessity: that the truths of God’s sovereignty over evil (as in Acts 4:27-28) require the Spirit to create new categories in the human mind, since these truths are “unintelligible” to the natural person. The sermon uniquely applies this to children’s ministry, arguing that even young children can and should be taught the deep compatibilism of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.

God's Sovereignty: Triumph Over Obstacles and Opposition (Desiring God) adds the theme that God’s sovereignty is not merely reactive but creative: He does not just “get over” evil but uses it as the very means of accomplishing His redemptive purposes. The sermon also stresses that Satan and human evil are not autonomous but are made to serve God’s ultimate plan, which is most clearly seen in the cross.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Free Will (Desiring God) develops the theme of “dual agency” or “dual explanation,” arguing that the same event (the crucifixion) can be fully explained both by God’s predestining will and by human free, responsible action. The sermon further explores the mystery of how God can ordain evil for good without Himself being evil, and insists that this is a unique Creator-creature relationship that cannot be analogized to any human relationship.

Understanding God's Sovereignty and Our Salvation Journey (Desiring God) introduces the theme that God’s ordination of sin is not the same as God committing sin, and that this distinction is essential for the coherence of the gospel. The sermon adds the facet that the existence of evil and lostness serves to magnify the grace shown to the elect, referencing Romans 9 to argue that God’s ultimate purpose is to display the riches of His glory against the backdrop of wrath and judgment.

Trusting God's Sovereignty in Suffering and Sacrifice (Desiring God) presents the theme that God’s sovereignty over evil and suffering is the foundation for hope and meaning in all Christian suffering. The sermon adds the unique angle that God’s self-exaltation (His pursuit of His own glory) is not at odds with His love, but is the very means by which He loves His people—by giving them Himself as their highest joy, even through suffering.

Finding Hope in Christ Amidst Suffering and Death (Desiring God) develops the theme that the world’s pain and brokenness are not arbitrary but are necessary for the redemptive work of Christ. The sermon’s fresh angle is that the existence of suffering is itself a stage for the display of God’s love in Christ’s suffering, making all pain ultimately purposeful in God’s plan.

God's Sovereignty in Trials and Suffering (Desiring God) introduces the theme of dual agency: that God can predestine events that are carried out by sinful agents (humans and Satan) for His holy purposes. The sermon’s new facet is the application of this principle to the sanctification of believers, showing that even satanic opposition is ultimately used by God for the believer’s good.

The Necessity of Christ's Suffering for Salvation (Desiring God) presents the theme that the specific, public, and shameful sufferings of Christ were not only necessary but “fitting” in God’s plan. The sermon’s unique contribution is the emphasis on the “fitness” (Greek: prepon) of Christ’s sufferings, arguing that God’s wisdom determined not just that Christ would die, but that He would die in this particular, agonizing, and public way for the sake of redemption and glory.

Embracing Suffering: Glorifying God Through Trials (Desiring God) introduces the theme that God’s sovereignty extends to the willing and governing of human sin for the sake of His redemptive purposes, without Himself being tainted by sin. The sermon adds the nuanced idea that God’s will for Christian suffering is not arbitrary but is designed to bring about conviction and salvation in others, the refinement of faith, and the unique glorification of God through steadfast hope in suffering—each of which is illustrated by the predestined suffering of Christ.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Desiring God) presents the distinct theological theme that the comfort and hope of the Christian in suffering is rooted in the same sovereign providence that ordained the cross. The preacher presses the tension between God’s goodness and His sovereignty, urging believers to embrace both, and to see the cross as the place where “the worst suffering and the deepest sovereignty meet at the point of greatest love.” This theme is developed with the assertion that God’s predestining of evil is not incompatible with His love, but is the very means by which His love is most fully revealed.

God's Sovereignty: Joseph's Journey from Betrayal to Redemption (Desiring God) develops the theme that the gospel itself depends on God’s sovereignty over evil: if God cannot govern the sinful actions of men (as in Acts 4:27-28), then there is no gospel, for the cross would be a random tragedy rather than a divinely orchestrated act of salvation. The sermon uniquely applies this to the Christian life, arguing that God’s pattern is to bring His people into peril and suffering, all the while planning their deliverance through those very means, and that this is the story not only of Joseph and Jesus but of every believer.

Divine Gifts: Understanding Life Through Assisted Reproduction (Desiring God) introduces the theme that God’s sovereignty is not limited or thwarted by human sinfulness or technological intervention; rather, God can bring about his creative and redemptive purposes even through morally ambiguous or sinful means. The sermon applies this to the ethics of assisted reproduction, suggesting that the “how” of human life’s origin is secondary to the reality of God’s creative act, just as the “how” of Christ’s death (through evil men) was secondary to God’s saving purpose.

God's Sovereignty: Turning Evil into Good (Desiring God) adds the distinct theological theme that God’s sovereignty is not merely permissive but purposive: God “meant” the crucifixion (and Joseph’s suffering) for good, not simply allowing evil and then redeeming it, but actively ordaining it for a greater purpose. The sermon also explores the comfort this brings to believers, arguing that only a God who plans (not just reacts to) evil can guarantee ultimate good and provide true consolation in suffering.

God-Centered Ministry: Instilling Deep Truths in Children (SermonIndex.net) presents the theme that understanding God’s sovereignty over evil (as in Acts 4:27-28) requires a supernatural “concept creation” by the Holy Spirit, not just intellectual assent. The sermon uniquely frames this as a pedagogical and spiritual challenge, emphasizing that such truths are “unintelligible” without divine intervention, and that teaching them to children (or adults) is an act of spiritual formation, not mere information transfer.

God's Providence: Faith and Commitment in Ruth (SermonIndex.net) develops the theme of the mysterious union of divine sovereignty and human responsibility, stressing that God’s predestining hand does not absolve human actors of guilt. The sermon applies this to evangelism and personal decision-making, warning against fatalism and emphasizing the necessity of personal response and accountability even within God’s sovereign plan.

Acts 4:27-28 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Glorying in the Cross: Prayer and Salvation (MLJTrust) provides extensive historical context for Acts 4:27-28, describing the political and religious climate of Jerusalem at the time: the collusion of Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the Jewish leaders, and the early church’s experience of persecution. The sermon situates the prayer of Acts 4 within the immediate aftermath of Peter and John’s healing of the lame man and their subsequent trial before the Sanhedrin, highlighting the existential threat faced by the early Christians and their recourse to prayer as a theological act rooted in their understanding of God’s sovereignty.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Free Will (Desiring God) offers historical insight into the use of the term “predestined” in the Greco-Roman world and the Jewish context, as well as the cultural expectations of messianic deliverance versus the reality of a crucified Messiah. The sermon also references the structure of ancient prayers and the significance of the early church’s appeal to Psalm 2 in their prayer, showing how they interpreted their suffering in light of Old Testament prophecy.

The Necessity of Christ's Suffering for Salvation (Desiring God) provides historical context by referencing the Old Testament sacrificial system, explaining that just as a sheep could not simply die of old age to be a sacrifice, so Christ’s death had to be intentional and public. The sermon also references the cultural context of crucifixion as the most shameful and public form of execution in the Roman world, highlighting the depth of Christ’s humiliation and the significance of His suffering in that context.

Embracing Suffering: Glorifying God Through Trials (Desiring God) provides historical context by detailing the specific roles of Herod, Pilate, the Gentile soldiers, and the Jewish crowds in the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. The preacher explains how each group’s actions—mockery, expedient judgment, physical abuse, and public condemnation—were sinful and yet were the means by which God’s predestined plan for redemption was accomplished, thus situating Acts 4:27-28 within the concrete realities of first-century Judea under Roman occupation and Jewish religious authority.

God's Sovereignty: Joseph's Journey from Betrayal to Redemption (Desiring God) offers contextual insight by connecting the prayer of the early church in Acts 4 to the broader biblical narrative of God’s sovereignty over history. The preacher notes that the early Christians, living under the threat of persecution in Jerusalem, found comfort and boldness in the knowledge that even the most powerful political and religious authorities (Herod, Pilate, the Sanhedrin) were ultimately instruments in God’s redemptive plan, thus highlighting the passage’s relevance to the church’s historical experience of suffering and opposition.

God's Providence: Faith and Commitment in Ruth (SermonIndex.net) provides detailed historical and linguistic context for Acts 4:27-28, explaining the significance of the various actors (Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, Israelites) as representing the full spectrum of political and religious power in first-century Jerusalem. The sermon also discusses the use of the divine name “Yahweh” (and its Hebrew spelling YHWH) in the Old Testament, connecting it to the theme of God’s covenantal faithfulness and sovereignty. The preacher further explains the cultural context of the crucifixion as a convergence of Jewish and Gentile hostility, highlighting the passage’s emphasis on the universality of human opposition to Christ and the comprehensive scope of God’s providence.

Acts 4:27-28 Cross-References in the Bible:

Glorying in the Cross: Prayer and Salvation (MLJTrust) references a wide array of biblical passages to support and expand on Acts 4:27-28, including Acts 2:23 (“delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God”), 1 Peter 1:18-20 (“foreordained before the foundation of the world”), Isaiah 53 (the suffering servant), John 3:14 (“as Moses lifted up the serpent”), and 2 Corinthians 5:21 (“made him to be sin for us”). The sermon uses these passages to show the continuity of the theme of the predestined cross throughout Scripture, arguing that the entire Old Testament sacrificial system and prophetic tradition point to the planned death of Christ.

Creating a Legacy of Bible Saturation in Ministry (Desiring God) cross-references 1 Corinthians 2:14 (“the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God”), Genesis 50:20 (“you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good”), and other passages that illustrate the compatibility of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The sermon also references Acts 2:23 and Romans 8:28-30 to reinforce the theme of predestination and God’s purpose in salvation.

God's Sovereignty: Triumph Over Obstacles and Opposition (Desiring God) groups together several cross-references: Luke 22:3 (Satan entering Judas), Genesis 50:20 (God’s intention for good in Joseph’s story), and 2 Corinthians 12 (Paul’s thorn as a “messenger of Satan” used by God). The sermon uses these to show that God’s sovereignty over evil is a consistent biblical theme, culminating in the cross.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Free Will (Desiring God) references Genesis 50:20 in detail, as well as Acts 2:22-23, Matthew 26:22-24 (Judas’ betrayal), John 6:64, Amos 3:6, Isaiah 45:7, Proverbs 21:1, and Romans 8:28-30. The sermon uses these passages to build a comprehensive biblical theology of God’s sovereignty over evil and human responsibility, showing that the pattern of dual agency is found throughout Scripture.

Understanding God's Sovereignty and Our Salvation Journey (Desiring God) references Romans 9:22-23 to support the idea that God’s purpose in ordaining evil is to display the riches of His glory to vessels of mercy. The sermon also references Ephesians 2:5 to argue against the concept of ultimate human self-determination, and 1 John 2:19 and Hebrews 6 to discuss perseverance and apostasy, connecting these to the theme of God’s sovereign plan.

Trusting God's Sovereignty in Suffering and Sacrifice (Desiring God) cross-references Job 1 and 42 to illustrate God’s sovereignty over suffering, Genesis 50:20 to show God’s good purpose in Joseph’s suffering, Matthew 10:29 to affirm God’s control over even sparrows, Mark 4:41 to show Christ’s authority over nature, Amos 3:6 to assert God’s sovereignty over disaster, and Ephesians 1:11 to declare that God works all things according to His will. The sermon also references Isaiah 43:7 and Ephesians 1 to support the theme of God’s glory as the purpose of creation and redemption, and John 11 and 2 Corinthians 12 to illustrate how God’s love is shown through suffering and the exaltation of Christ.

Finding Hope in Christ Amidst Suffering and Death (Desiring God) references Romans 5:8 to show God’s love in Christ’s death, and Romans 9:22 to address the question of why God allows evil and suffering, suggesting further study in related episodes. The sermon also alludes to 1 Peter 2:24 and the broader narrative of Christ’s suffering as fulfilling God’s plan.

God's Sovereignty in Trials and Suffering (Desiring God) references 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 2 Thessalonians 3, and 1 Thessalonians 2:17 to discuss the role of human and satanic opposition in Christian suffering. The sermon also references 2 Corinthians 12 to illustrate the dual agency in Paul’s thorn in the flesh, showing how God uses satanic intent for sanctification.

The Necessity of Christ's Suffering for Salvation (Desiring God) references multiple passages: 1 Peter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to discuss suffering and glory; Acts 4:27-28 as the key text on predestination; Matthew 26:56, Luke 22:37, Luke 24:26, John 13:18, John 19:36, and Isaiah 53:5 to show the fulfillment of prophecy; Hebrews 2:10 to discuss the “fittingness” of Christ’s suffering; 1 Corinthians 5:7 and Hebrews 10:12 to connect Christ’s death to the Passover and sacrificial system; Romans 5:9 and Hebrews 9:22 to emphasize the necessity of blood; Philippians 2 to discuss Christ’s humiliation and exaltation; and Revelation 5:9 to show the worthiness of the slaughtered Lamb.

Embracing Suffering: Glorifying God Through Trials (Desiring God) cross-references 1 Peter 3:15-17 and 1 Peter 4:19 to reinforce the idea that Christian suffering is sometimes willed by God, and that this suffering is often the result of the sins of others. The sermon also references Acts 2:12 and 1 Peter 1:6-7 to show that suffering refines faith and brings glory to God, drawing a direct line from the predestined suffering of Christ in Acts 4:27-28 to the experience of believers.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Desiring God) references Genesis 3 (the fall and the entrance of suffering), Romans 5:8 (God’s love demonstrated in Christ’s death), and Deuteronomy 32:4 and Psalm 34:8 (God’s justice and goodness) to frame the discussion of God’s sovereignty over evil. The preacher uses these passages to argue that the cross is the ultimate intersection of suffering and sovereignty, as articulated in Acts 4:27-28.

God's Sovereignty: Joseph's Journey from Betrayal to Redemption (Desiring God) cross-references Genesis 50:20 (“you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good”), Isaiah 53:10 (“it was the will of the Lord to crush him”), and Psalm 105:16-19 (God’s sovereignty over Joseph’s suffering) to show that the principle of God’s sovereign intent in human evil is a consistent biblical theme, culminating in the cross as described in Acts 4:27-28. The sermon also references Acts 14:22 and Psalm 34:19 to apply this principle to the ongoing afflictions of believers.

Divine Gifts: Understanding Life Through Assisted Reproduction (Desiring God) references several Old Testament passages (Psalm 139:13, Job 10:8-12, Job 31:13-15, Psalm 71:6, Ecclesiastes 11:5, Jeremiah 1:5) to establish the principle that God is the ultimate creator of human life, regardless of the means. The sermon then uses Acts 4:27-28 as the climactic example of God using evil for good, paralleling the creation of life through “unnatural” means with the accomplishment of salvation through the evil actions of men.

God's Sovereignty: Turning Evil into Good (Desiring God) cross-references Genesis 50:20 (“You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good”), Genesis 45 (Joseph’s explanation of God “sending” him to Egypt), and Psalm 105:16-17 (God “summoned a famine” and “sent a man ahead of them, Joseph”). The sermon then connects these Old Testament examples to Acts 4:27-28, arguing that the same pattern of divine sovereignty over evil is seen in the crucifixion of Christ. The preacher also references Psalm 10:5 and other passages to reinforce the theme of God’s governance over all events.

God-Centered Ministry: Instilling Deep Truths in Children (SermonIndex.net) references 1 Corinthians 2:14 (the natural person cannot understand spiritual things), Romans 12 (zeal for God), John 17 (Jesus’ prayer for the Father to glorify the Son), and several Old Testament and New Testament passages about God’s self-exaltation and the purpose of creation. Acts 4:27-28 is used as a key example of God’s sovereignty over sin, alongside other “concept creation” doctrines such as the two natures of Christ and justification by faith.

God's Providence: Faith and Commitment in Ruth (SermonIndex.net) references Luke 22:21 (the hand of the betrayer is with me), Matthew 26:24 (woe to the betrayer), and Acts 4:27-28, using these passages to illustrate the intersection of divine determination and human responsibility in the events leading to the crucifixion. The sermon also references Old Testament passages about God’s providence and the use of the divine name, connecting these themes to the story of Ruth and the broader biblical narrative of salvation.

Acts 4:27-28 Christian References outside the Bible:

Glorying in the Cross: Prayer and Salvation (MLJTrust) explicitly references historical Christian figures and theologians, including Augustine, Luther, and the author of Hebrews, to support the centrality of the cross and the doctrine of predestination. The sermon quotes Paul (“I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified”) and references the Reformation’s emphasis on the cross as the heart of revival and true preaching. The preacher also alludes to John Calvin’s teaching on predestination and the necessity of starting with God’s nature in understanding salvation.

Creating a Legacy of Bible Saturation in Ministry (Desiring God) references Charles Spurgeon’s famous quote about John Bunyan (“prick him anywhere and his blood is Bibline”) to illustrate the ideal of Bible saturation. The sermon also mentions C.S. Lewis, Brad Pitt, and Oprah Winfrey as examples of people who have struggled with the concept of God’s self-exaltation, though these are more cultural than strictly theological references.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Free Will (Desiring God) explicitly references Gregory Boyd, a contemporary open theist, quoting at length from his book “God of the Possible” to contrast the open theist view with the compatibilist reading of Acts 4:27-28. The sermon also mentions Charles Hodge, a classic Reformed theologian, as supporting the view that the pattern of dual agency in Genesis 50:20 is true of all history. Augustine is also quoted (“even if we do not understand, let us be glad for the truth”) to encourage acceptance of mystery in divine sovereignty.

Understanding God's Sovereignty and Our Salvation Journey (Desiring God) explicitly references Bob Stein, professor of New Testament at Southern Seminary, in a discussion about the nature of wine in the New Testament, though this is not directly related to Acts 4:27-28. No other explicit non-biblical Christian sources are cited in relation to Acts 4:27-28 in any of the analyzed sermons.

God-Centered Ministry: Instilling Deep Truths in Children (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references Charles Spurgeon’s famous quote about John Bunyan (“Prick him anywhere and his blood is Bibline”), using it as an illustration of Bible saturation and the goal of Christian education. The sermon also mentions C.S. Lewis, Brad Pitt, and Oprah Winfrey as examples of people who struggled with the concept of God’s “megalomania” or self-exaltation, noting that Lewis in particular was kept from faith for years by this issue. The preacher claims that “Christian Hedonism” (a term associated with John Piper) is the only satisfactory answer to the charge of divine megalomania, though no direct quote from Piper is given in this section.

Acts 4:27-28 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Creating a Legacy of Bible Saturation in Ministry (Desiring God) uses a detailed, original story as a secular analogy: the story of two brothers, where the older brother gives the younger a birthday gift of a day spent together, illustrating that the greatest gift is the giver himself. This is used to parallel God’s self-giving in the gospel and to explain why God’s self-exaltation is not megalomania but love. The sermon also references popular figures like Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey, explaining that their rejection of Christianity is rooted in their perception of God’s self-exaltation as egomania, thus using contemporary cultural examples to illustrate the stumbling block of God’s god-centeredness.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Free Will (Desiring God) recounts the real-life story of “Suzanne,” as told by Gregory Boyd, involving a failed Christian marriage and the problem of evil, to illustrate the existential and pastoral stakes of the doctrine. The story is used to contrast the open theist approach (God “rolling the dice” and having a “plan B”) with the biblical teaching of God’s exhaustive sovereignty, as seen in Acts 4:27-28. The sermon also references the BTK killer and other real-world examples of evil and suffering to ground the discussion in lived experience.

None of the sermons analyzed provide explicit illustrations from secular sources (such as popular culture, sports, or current events) specifically to illustrate Acts 4:27-28. All illustrations and analogies are drawn from biblical narratives, theological reasoning, or Christian history.

Understanding God's Sovereignty Amidst Evil and Suffering (Desiring God) uses a detailed secular illustration from Adam Smith, the economist, to highlight the human tendency to be more affected by personal pain than by massive distant tragedies. The preacher recounts Smith’s observation that if Americans heard that 100 million people in China had died in an earthquake, most would sleep soundly the next night, but would be deeply troubled if they themselves suffered a minor injury. This illustration is used to underscore the difficulty of emotionally grasping the horrors over which God is sovereign, and to challenge listeners to recognize their own limited capacity for empathy and perspective on suffering.

God's Sovereignty: Joseph's Journey from Betrayal to Redemption (Desiring God) provides a personal, contemporary illustration involving a car breakdown on a family road trip. The preacher describes how, after praying for safety, the car breaks down, but a mechanic providentially stops to help, leading to a gospel conversation. This story is used as a modern parable of Joseph’s experience and of Acts 4:27-28, illustrating how God often answers prayers for good within the context of apparent non-answers or adversity, and how His providence is at work even in the details of everyday life.

God-Centered Ministry: Instilling Deep Truths in Children (SermonIndex.net) uses several detailed secular illustrations to explain Acts 4:27-28 and related concepts. The preacher tells a story about two brothers, one 16 and one 7, where the older brother gives the younger a “fishing trip with me” as the best possible gift, using this as an analogy for God giving himself to us in love (rather than in megalomania). The sermon also references Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey as cultural figures who rejected Christianity because of their perception of God’s self-centeredness, and C.S. Lewis’s intellectual journey as an example of wrestling with the concept of divine self-exaltation. These illustrations are used to make the theological point accessible to both children and adults, and to show the real-world implications of misunderstanding or rightly understanding God’s motives in exalting himself and governing evil.