John Calvin Commentary Acts 4:28

"to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass." — Acts 4:28 (ASV)

That they might do. I have already explained for what purpose this is spoken: that the kingdom of Christ was so far from being overrun by that conspiracy that, in truth, it then flourished. Nevertheless, this contains a singular doctrine: that God so governs and guides all things by his secret counsel that he brings to pass those things which he has determined, even by the wicked.

This is not because they are willingly ready to do him such service, but because he turns their counsels and attempts backward. Consequently, on the one side appears great equity and most great righteousness; on the other appears nothing but wickedness and iniquity. We have handled this matter more extensively in the second chapter.

Let us learn here, by the way, that we must consider God's providence in such a way that we recognize it as the chief and only guide of all things that are done in the world. We should understand that the devil and all the wicked are restrained by God’s bridle, so that they cannot harm us. Even when they rage most fiercely, they are not at liberty to do as they please; instead, the bridle is given to them, yet only to the extent that is beneficial for our testing.

Those people who acknowledge only the foreknowledge of God, and yet do not confess that all things are done as it pleases him, are easily convicted by these words: that God has appointed beforehand that which was to be done. Indeed, Luke, not being content with the word counsel, also adds hand—improperly, yet so that he might more plainly declare that the events of things are not only governed by the counsel of God but are also ordered by his power and hand.