Acts 1:26

And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. AND THEY GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS, [ edookan (G1325) kleerous (G2819) autoon (G846)] - rather, 'lots for them,' according to the true reading [ autois (G846)]. Of this mode of decision we have some notable examples in Scripture (Joshua 7:14-6; 1 Chronicles 24:6; Jonah 1:17;...

26._They gave in their lots _We will not, in this place, make any long disputation about lots. Those men who think it to be wickedness to cast lots at all, offend partly through ignorance, and partly they understand not the force of this word. There is nothing which men do not corrupt with their boldness and vanity, whereby it is come to pass that they have brought lots into great abuse and superstition. For that divination or conjecture which is made by lots is altogether devilish. But when magistrates divide provinces among them, and brethren their inheritance, it is a thing lawful. Which thing Solomon doth plainly testify, when he maketh God the governor of the event. “The lots (saith he) are cast into the bosom, and the judgment of them cometh forth from the Lord,” (Proverbs 16:33.) This ordinance or custom is no more corrupt and depraved by corruption, than the corru

15-26 The great thing the apostles were to attest to the world, was, Christ's resurrection; for that was the great proof of his being the Messiah, and the foundation of our hope in him. The apostles were ordained, not to wordly dignity and dominion, but to preach Christ, and the power of his resurrection. An appeal was made to God; "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men," which we do not; and better than they know their own. It is fit that God should choose his own servants; and so far as he, by the disposals of his providence, or the gifts of his Spirit, shows whom he was chosen, or what he has chosen for us, we ought to fall in with his will. Let us own his hand in the determining everything which befalls us, especially in those by which any trust may be committed to us....

Verse Acts 1:26. _THEY GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS_] In what manner this or any other question was decided by lot, we cannot precisely say. The most simple form was to put two _stones_, pieces of _board, metal_, or _slips_ of _parchment_, with the names of the persons inscribed on them, into an urn; and after prayer, sacrifice, c., to put in the hand and draw out one of the lots, and then the case was decided. I have considered this subject at large on Leviticus 16:8, Leviticus 16:9; and Joshua 14:2. _HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE ELEVEN APOSTLES._] The word συγκατεψηφισθη, comes from συν, together

AND THEY GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS - Some have supposed that this means they voted. But to this interpretation there are insuperable objections: * The word “lots,” κλήρους klērous, is not used to express votes, or suffrage. * The expression “the lot fell upon” is not consistent with the notion of voting. It is commonly expressive of casting lots. * Casting lots was common among the Jews on important and difficult occasions, and it was natural that the apostles should resort to it in this. Thus, David divided the priests by lot, 1 Chronicles 24:5. The land of Canaan was divided by lot, Numbers 26:55;...

EXPOSITION ACTS 1:1 _I made_ for _have I made, _A.V.; _concerning _for _of, _A.V.; _to teach _for _teach, _A.V. THE FORMER TREATISE; literally, _the first _history, narrative, or discourse. The form of the Greek, τὸν μὲν τρῶτον, shows that the writer had in his mind at the time to contrast the _second history_, which he was just beginning, and that naturally τὸν δὲ δεύτερον or τοῦτον δὲ τὸν λόγον, ought both grammatically and logically, to have followed. But the mention of "the apostles whom he had chosen" drew him, as it were, into the stem of his history before he was able to describe it. O THEOPHILUS. The omission of the title "most excellent," given to Theophilus in the Gospel (Luke 1:3

AND THEY GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS,.... Or "gave forth lots for them", as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions; for Joseph and Matthias; some for one, and some for another; and which were cast into a man's lap, or into a vessel, and was no other than balloting for them; and so he that had the majority upon casting them up, when taken out, was declared the person chosen; or "they cast their lots"; that is, into an urn, or vessel; which lots had the names of the two persons on them; and into another vessel, as is thought, were put two other lots; the one had the name of "apostle" upon it, and the other nothing; and these being taken out by persons appointed for that purpose, the lot with Matthias's name on it, was taken out against that which had the name of apostle on it, upon which he was declared to be the apostle: it may be that this was done in the same manner, as the goats on the day...

ACTS 1:26 auvtoi/j {B} Instead of auvtoi/j, which is well attested by a A B C 33 81 1739 vg copsa. bo _al,_ the Textus Receptus, following D* E Y most minuscules, reads auvtw/n. In the opinion of a majority of the Committee, the ambiguity of auvtoi/j (is it intended as indirect object, “they gave lots _to_ them,” or as ethical dative, “they cast lots _for_ them”?) prompted copyists to replace it with the easier auvtw/n....

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS Part I The Witness to Jerusalem. The Advent of the Spirit and the Formation of the Church. The Offer to Israel and its Rejection. Chapter s 1-7 CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The Introduction (Acts 1:1)._ 2. The final words of the risen Lord (Acts 1:4). 3. The ascension (Acts 1:9). 4. The waiting company (Acts 1:12). 5. Matthias chosen in the place of Judas (Acts 1:15). The introductory words prove that Luke is the writer. In the former treatise, Luke had addressed to Theophilus (the Gospel of Luke)

ELECTION OF A TWELFTH APOSTLE.In those days (_cf._ Mark 1:9; a vague expression) Peter comes forward as leader. 1 Corinthians 15:6 * speaks of 500 brethren at once. The first to whom the risen Lord appeared was naturally their leader; though Ac. does not mention this, Lk. does (Luke 24:24). We have here the first example in Ac. of the application of OT passages to Christian things. Two passages from Ps. are applied to Judas, whose place is now to be filled. It is assumed that there is a fixed number of apostles, and that the number is to be kept up. Judas (Acts 1:17) was one of the twelve;...