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sufficient that the person thus chosen should have known the Lord for a part of His
ministry, he must have "come together" (same word as in 1: 6) with them from the
beginning. This we shall find is confirmed by the Lord's words in Luke 22: 28-30:--
"Ye are they which have continued right through (without a break, see force of
diamenő in II Pet. 3: 4) with Me in my temptations. . . . ye may. . . . sit upon
thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
From Matt. 19: 28 we learn there will be twelve thrones, and consequently there must
be twelve apostles. Of all the company gathered on this occasion (and Acts 1: 15 tells us
there were one hundred and twenty), two only fulfilled this condition. We do not read
anything of "Joseph called Barsabas who was surnamed Justus", or of "Matthias" in the
Gospel narrative. So far, all has been in perfect harmony with the scriptural requirements
in view of the complete witness to be given on the fast approaching day of Pentecost. At
this point, however, Peter and the rest turn to the Lord.
"And they prayed, and said, Thou Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew
whether of these two Thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and
apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias: and he was numbered with
the eleven apostles."
The use of the lot is in entire conformity with Scripture teaching. Already in this
chapter the word has occurred twice, translated "part", viz., in verse 17, and also in
verse 25. The casting of lots as a means to discover the Lord's mind figures early in
Scripture. Aaron cast lots upon the two goats on the day of atonement, the land of
promise was divided by lot. No believer would venture to suggest that it was all a matter
of chance as to which portion of the holy land became that the Lord had already planned
the inheritance and the casting of the lot was His method of communicating His will just
as surely as by the Urim and Thummim, or the pillar of cloud. Proverbs 16: 33 says
very definitely:--
"The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord."
This we take to be true in Acts 1: We do not believe that Matthias was appointed by
the Lord on that occasion, but that the Lord's appointment was at that time made known.
In I Cor. 15: the Apostle Paul very definitely teaches two things, (1) The "twelve"
were in existence and could see the risen Lord some time before His ascension (verse 5);
and (2) that Paul himself was not of the twelve (verse 8). The arrangement of the
witnesses to the resurrection in verse 5-8 is suggestive:--
A | Seen of Cephas (one Apostle).
B | Then the twelve (all the Apostles).
C | After that 500 brethren (not of the twelve).
A | Seen of James (one Apostle).
B | Then all the apostles (the twelve).
C | Last of all of Paul (not of the twelve).