John Calvin Commentary Acts 3:18

"But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled." — Acts 3:18 (ASV)

And God By this it appears more plainly for what purpose he mentioned ignorance; for when he tells them that God has accomplished those things which he had foretold, he so touches their offense in the death of Christ, that it turns to their salvation. Ignorance, he says, has made you guilty, yet God has brought to pass what he had determined, that Christ should redeem you by his death.

This is a most notable consideration, when we ponder and consider with ourselves that through the wonderful counsel of God our evils are turned to another end for us. Yet this in no way excuses us, for insofar as it lies in us, we cast ourselves away by sinning; but that conversion of which I have spoken is a notable work of God’s mercy, of which we must speak, and which we must extol with humility.

The Jews did what they could to extinguish all hope of life in the person of Christ; and yet, nevertheless, that death gave life to them as well as to the whole world. We must also remember what we saw elsewhere, lest any false and absurd opinion should creep in, that Christ was laid open to the lust of the wicked, that God is made the chief author by whose will his only Son did suffer.