²³ But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.

²⁸ But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.

²² For it has been determined that the Son of Man^[a] must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.”

²⁰ God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

¹⁸ But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things.

²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

²⁷ The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath.

¹³ For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

²⁴ For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”