According to the Book of Acts, the death of Jesus on the cross was the result of a voluntary rejection of the Jews and the Roman authorities, who are responsible for it. At the same time, the Book of Acts teaches that Christ’s death had been sovereignly forecraded by God. The two realities are presented side by side, in several passages. Men act according to their decisions and deliberations, and in doing so, they accomplish exactly what God had already foretermined:
“Israelite men, listen to these words: Jesus, the Nazarene, a man approved by God before you with miracles, wonders, and signs, which God Himself has performed through you among you, as you know yourselves; being that delivered by God’s determined plan and prescience, did you kill him, crucify him in the hands of the wicked?(Hch 2: 22-23).
- “And now.
- Brethren.
- I know that ye have done it out of ignorance.
- As well as by your authority; But God thus fulfilled what He had previously announced through the mouths of all the prophets: that his Christ would suffer?(Hch.
- 3: 17-18).
Why did they really gather in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you agiste, Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen and people of Israel, to do all that your hand and plan had foretermined?(Hch 4: 27- 28)
Brethren, descendants of Abraham and you who fear God, have been sent to us the word of this salvation for those who lived in Jerusalem and his authorities, who did not know Jesus or the teachings of the prophets who read every Saturday when they condemned him. , fulfilled the prophecies; and although they found no cause of death, they asked Pilate to kill him. After finishing everything that was written about him, taking him out of the tree, did he put it in the grave?(Acts 13: 26-29).
We must keep God’s sovereignty and human responsibility together. What God has gathered, that is not separated by man.