Acts 1:26

Thursday, 21 October 2021 <p> </p> <p>And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Acts 1:26</p> <p>With the proposal of either Joseph or Matthias to replace Judas, as Scripture called for, the account next says, “And they cast their lots.” Some take this as meaning a vote was made, but that is not how lots are conducted. Further, the wording of the next clause dismisses the idea of a vote having been made. Rather, lots were cast as is in accord with Scripture elsewhere.</p> <p> </p> <p>Lots were cast on the Day of Atonement for the selection of the goat for the Lord and for the scapegoat. Land was called to be divided by lot in the book of Numbers, and that division was conducted in Joshua. Saul is recorded as having used lots. The division of the priests in 1 Chronicles 24 occurred by lot. Other lots are recorded in 1 Chronicles also. Nehemiah cast lots among the priests after the exile. David prophesied of lots being cast for the clothing of the Messiah in Psalm 22. And Solomon, in the Proverbs, takes it as an axiom that lots had value –</p> <p> </p> <p>“The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.” Proverbs 16:33</p> <p> </p> <p>“Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart.” Proverbs 18:18</p> <p> </p> <p>These and other references concerning the use of lots demonstrate that it was a common practice in the decision-making process in Israel. In particular, Scripture itself condones the practice and acknowledges that when the lot was employed, its decision was from the Lord. As such, this means, meaning casting lots, was employed by the apostles, “and the lot fell on Matthias.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The wording here demonstrates that this was a casting of the lot and not a vote. For the lot to “fall” on Matthias indicates that it was the decision of the Lord through the lot rather than a selection by the others.</p> <p> </p> <p>Nothing about this process has been either out of the will of the Lord