god-determined

Updated: May 12, 2025

And in this case how wonderfully separate factors, who think themselves quite independent, are all handled like pawns on a chessboard by Him who 'makes the wrath of man to praise Him, and girds Himself with the remainder thereof! Little did the fiery zealots who were eager to plunge their daggers into Paul's heart, or the lad who hastened to tell him the secret he had discovered, or the Roman officer who equally hastened to get rid of his troublesome prisoner, dream that they were all partners in bringing about one God-determined result the fulfilment of the promise that had calmed Paul in the preceding night: 'So must thou bear witness also at Rome.

Alexander Maclaren - Expositions of Holy Scripture: the Acts