Acts 1:24-26:
"24And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."(ESV)
My question is why they did cast lots? Why did not they ask God for some kind of sign? When I face some problem should I pray first and then write on one paper YES and on the other NO and then cast?
Acts 1:24-26 (casting lots)
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1over137
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Acts 1:24-26 (casting lots)
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
-- Philippians 1:6
#foreverinmyheart
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
-- Philippians 1:6
#foreverinmyheart
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Furstentum Liechtenstein
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Re: Acts 1:24-26 (casting lots)
It does seem strange that a lottery would be used by the apostles! ...but I think this is the last instance in the Bible where the apostles cast lots because in later chapters (Acts 11 and on) the Spirit of the Lord becomes the counsellor and casting lots is abandoned as a form of taking decisions.1over137 wrote:My question is why they did cast lots? Why did not they ask God for some kind of sign?
These two quotes from Proverbs may help you understand why the apostles did what they did in Acts 1:24-26:
Proverbs 16:33
Proverbs 18:18
FL
Hold everything lightly. If you don't, it will hurt when God pries your fingers loose as He takes it from you. -Corrie Ten Boom
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If they had a social gospel in the days of the prodigal son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have gone home.
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If they had a social gospel in the days of the prodigal son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have gone home.
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1over137
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Re: Acts 1:24-26 (casting lots)
Thank you for the answer : )
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
-- Philippians 1:6
#foreverinmyheart
-- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
-- Philippians 1:6
#foreverinmyheart
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Philip
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Re: Acts 1:24-26 (casting lots)
The fact of the matter is that GOD guided the process of casting lots to produce HIS selection. Clearly, the Apostles prayerfully sought God's will and guidance before doing so. The mistake would be to think that, in this specific situation, just because they used a normally random process to select a replacement for Judas, that his replacement, Matthias, was a random RESULT. But with God in control of that process, obviously it produced the precise outcome and selection God so wished. Often, God has us move forward in faith, and to make the best decision we can, based upon scripture's guidance and also whatever wisdom we already are privy to. THEN, as we move forward in faith, God will then guide our paths to discover solutions and answers. I believe that this is what happened here.
Last edited by Philip on Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Dallas
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Re: Acts 1:24-26 (casting lots)
I know about casting lots. But, what is a lot? Is it a way to make money?
Vigilate super me Dominus
Down the road i'll hit many bumps, but as long as you're driving Lord, i'll be fine.
Down the road i'll hit many bumps, but as long as you're driving Lord, i'll be fine.
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jlay
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Re: Acts 1:24-26 (casting lots)
Lots did have a specfic dependence on the soverignty of God. However we shouldn't ingore the qualifications (which are listed) that led to the chosing of these two in the first place.
-“The Bible treated allegorically becomes putty in the hands of the exegete.” John Walvoord
"I'm not saying scientists don't overstate their results. They do. And it's understandable, too...If you spend years working toward a certain goal and make no progress, of course you are going to spin your results in a positive light." Ivellious
"I'm not saying scientists don't overstate their results. They do. And it's understandable, too...If you spend years working toward a certain goal and make no progress, of course you are going to spin your results in a positive light." Ivellious