And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Read Chapter 13
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
As many as were pre-ordained to eternal life, by the free election, and special mercies, and providence of God. (Witham)
Some understand this as if it meant, predisposed by their docility, to receive the word of life. But the Fathers unanimously understand it literally of predestination, which is defined by St. Thomas Aquinas, serm. i. qu. 23. a. 1. "The disposition of God, by which he prepares, what he will himself perform, according to his infallible foreknowledge. "In other words, it is the manner in which God conducts a reasonable creature to its proper destiny, which is eternal life. In this mystery of the Catholic faith, which cannot be clearly explained to human understanding, because it is a mystery, there are nevertheless several points, which we know for certain. 1st. Though it is certain, that this decree of the Almighty is infallible, and must have its effect, yet it is far removed from the blasphemy of Calvinists, who pretend that it destroys free-will, and therefore remo...
this, while it was more cheering to them, seeing the case was this, that whereas those were of right to hear first, they themselves enjoy the blessing, was at the same time more stinging to those— and the Gentiles, it says, hearing (this) were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and believed, as many as were ordained unto eternal life: i.e., set apart for God. Observe how he shows the speediness of the benefit: And the word of the Lord was borne through all the region,
this is also a proof, that their having received these Gentiles was agreeable with the mind of God. But ordained, not in regard of necessity: whom He foreknew, says the Apostle, He did predestinate. Romans 8:29 And the word of the Lord, etc.
