Leo the Great : Did then the wickedness of Christ's persecutors spring from God's plan, and was that unsurpassable crime prefaced and set in motion by the hand of God? Clearly we must not think this of the highest Justice: that which was fore-known in respect of the Jews' malice is far different, indeed quite contrary to what was ordained in respect of Christ's Passion. Their desire to slay Him did not proceed from the same source as His to die: nor were their atrocious crime and the Redeemer's endurance the offspring of One Spirit. The Lord did not incite but permit those madmen's naughty hands: nor in His foreknowledge of what must be accomplished did He compel its accomplishment, even though it was in order to its accomplishment that He had taken flesh. — Sermon LXVII. (on the Passion, XVI.: Delivered on the Sunday.) Oecumenius : The same intention remains evident. For there is no need for counsel where power is present. Therefore whatever things you ordained from the beginning were done by the Apostles, and so the prayer was not to repel troubles, but for the success of evangelical prayer; for they did not say, Free them, but, "grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness." (Acts 4:29) — Commentary on Acts Oecumenius : "Do whatever your hand and your will have ordained" (Acts 4:28): that is, they could not do it themselves, but you are the one who permitted and brought the whole matter to completion, namely prudent and wise. Indeed they had come together as enemies with savage intent, but they were doing what you wished. — Commentary on Acts