voting or casting lots

[Amanah]

Casting lots didn't work out very well, that is the way Matthias was picked and you never heard from him again.

Acts 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The other time you hear of casting lots, the Romans were gambling for Jesus garments.

Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Casting lots didn't work out very well, that is the way Matthias was picked and you never heard from him again.

Acts 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The next time you hear of casting lots, the Romans were gambling for Jesus garments.

Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Casting lots was an often used method whereby God made His will known. Here are some examples were casting lots was used:

• David divided the Priests by lots: 1 Chronicles 24:5
• The land of Canaan divided by lots: Numbers 26:55-56; Joshua 15, Joshua 16:1-10, Joshua 16:17
• Jonathan was detected of violating King Saul’s command by lots: 1 Samuel 14:41-42
• Achan’s disobedience was discovered by lots: Joshua 7:16-18
• The sacrificial goat and the scapegoat were chosen by lots: Leviticus 16:8-10
• Moses choosing the 70 elders was by lot: Numbers 11:16, Numbers 11:24-26

The issue of Matthias not being mentioned again after Acts 1, the same thing could be said for many of the other apostles. Here is a breakdown of those mentioned and those who are not:

1. Yes - Peter
2. Yes – James (the elder/see Acts 12:1-2)
3. Yes – John
4. No – Andrew
5. Yes – Philip
6. No – Thomas
7. No – Bartholomew
8. No – Matthew
9. Yes – James (“The Lessor.” May have written James’ epistle)
10. No – Simon Zealotes
11. N0 – Judas (Jude, brother of James)
12. No – Matthias

Finally, although historical record is not comparable with the inspired Word of God, they do lend some credence to the importance placed on Matthias in what is said to be early church history. Here are some quotes I found:

St Clement of Alexandria from STROMATA (VI: 13), “Not that they became apostles through being chosen for some distinguished peculiarity of nature, since Judas was also chosen along with them. But they were capable of becoming apostles on being chosen by Him who foresees even ultimate issues. Matthias, accordingly, who was not chosen along with them, on showing himself worthy of becoming an apostle, is substituted for Judas.”

Matthias is one of the five Apostles credited by Armenian tradition with evangelizing Armenia. These five were Thaddaeus, Bartholomew, Simon the Cananaean, Andrew and Matthias. (ISBE, Matthias).

Irenaeus refers to Matthias as being "ordained" in the place of Judas. No trace is left of an apocryphal "Gospel According to Matthias." It was a heretical work referred to by Origen (Hom. on Luke i) and Eusebius. (Eusebius HE 111 25, 6).

Hilgenfeld identifies Matthias with Nathanael (compare NATHANAEL). He was traditionally the author of the "Gospel of Matthias," a heretical work referred to by Origen (Hom. on Lk, i), by Eusebius (Historia Ecclesiastica, III, 25, 6) and by Hieronymus (Proem in Matth.). No trace of it is left. The Gnostic Basilides (circa 133 AD) and his son Isidor claimed to ground their doctrine in the "Gospel of Basilides" on the teaching Matthias received directly from the Saviour (Hippol., vii.20) (compare Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 167). Various parts of the apocryphal "Contendings of the Apostles" deal with the imprisonment and blinding of Matthias by the Ethiopian cannibals, and his rescue by Andrew (compare Budge, Contendings of the Apostles, II, 163, 164, 267-88; see also ANDREW). According to the Martyrdom of Matthias (Budge, II, 289-94) he was sent to Damascus, and died at Phalaeon, a city of Judea. Other sources mention Jerusalem as the place of Matthias' ministry and burial. -C. M. Kerr

There is a writing named ‘Traditions of Matthias’, also associated as Gospel of Matthias believed to be compiled in the first half of the 2nd..century. St Clement of Alexandria has quoted from this in his STROMATA and has observed that the teachings of Matthias are used by some Gnostic groups. Hippolytus has commented that Basilides and his son Isidore who are known to be Gnostics having learnt from “secret words” of Matthias which he had received from the private teachings of our Savior. Origen too has quoted from ‘Traditions of Matthias’. Eusobius has grouped Gospel of Matthias along with Gospel of Peter and Gospel of Thomas. This book having extensively used by Gnostics indicate its heretic nature and obviously this has not found canonical acceptance. The fact that this is found to have been compiled only in the second century proves that the Apostle Matthias is not the true author. However, it is worth noting that the then generation found Matthias at par with Peter and Thomas to have used his name in later day authoring as it used to be a common practice then. Probably, some Gnostic preacher would have worked behind it to create authenticity to such of their heretic teachings.

So, I think casting lots worked out pretty good for Matthias.