The Greek verb dei is an impersonal verb meaning 'it is necessary' or 'it must be.' In the New Testament it frequently expresses divine necessity — things that must happen according to God's plan, Scripture's fulfillment, or moral obligation. It appears over 100 times in the NT, including key statements about Jesus' mission.
Dei is one of the most theologically significant words in the Gospels and Acts. 'The Son of Man must suffer many things' (Mark 8:31) — this dei expresses divine necessity rooted in God's redemptive plan and prophetic Scripture. 'I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also — that is why I was sent' (Luke 4:43). 'We must obey God rather than human beings' (Acts 5:29). Dei frames the entire gospel narrative as not accidental but divinely orchestrated. What God decrees must come to pass.