Casting lots

[Byron Jack Gaist]

Today is the feast day of the Apostle Mathias, who replaced Judas after the Lord was betrayed by him. In the scripture it says they prayed to God and cast lots, "and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles" (Acts 1: 15-26).

What is this system of prayer followed by casting lots? Can someone clarify the process? (Would the Apostles discern the Lord's will through a game of chance? Or is the equal merit between Mathias and the other candidate (Justus) being alluded to by the use of "casting lots"?

In Christ
Byron

[Kosmas Damianides]

KlhrouV can also mean votes in Greek. St John Chrysostom says this was done because the Holy Spirit was not sent yet. This choice is made by God's choosing. It was not by chance.

St John Chrysostom writes:


“And they appointed two,” it is said. Why not many? That the feeling of disappointment might not reach further, extending to many. Again, it is not without reason that he puts Matthias last; he would show, that frequently he that is honorable among men, is inferior before God. And they all pray in common saying, “Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show. Thou,” not “We.” And very seasonably they use the epithet, “heart-knowing:” for by Him Who is this must the choice be made. So confident were they, that assuredly one of them must be appointed. They said not, Choose, but, “Show the chosen one;” knowing that all things were foreordained of God; “Whom Thou didst choose: one of these two,” say they, “to have his lot in this ministry and apostleship.” For there was besides another ministry (diakonia). “And they gave them their lots.” For they did not yet consider themselves to be worthy to be informed by some sign. And besides, if in a case where neither prayer was made, nor men of worth were the agents, the casting of lots so much availed, because it was done of a right intention, I mean if in the case of Jonah (Jonah 1:7); much more did it here. Thus, did he, the designated, fill up the company, complete the order: but the other candidate was not annoyed; for the apostolic writers would not have concealed [that or any other] failings of their own, seeing they have told of the very chief Apostles, that on other occasions they had indignation (Matthew 20:24; 26:8), and this not once only, but again and again."

It is hard to say how exactly this vote was performed but the sure thing is that the Holy Spirit was involved. We often think that the choices we take are ours but in the end it is always a combined choice between God and us, because He is a heart-reader or heart-knower kardiognwsthV.