“What place does casting lots have?”

July/August 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: What place does casting lots have for believers today, especially in relation to selecting individuals for the Lord’s service? Lots were cast and fell upon Matthias as recorded in Acts 1:26, but in Acts 6:5 no lots were cast when Stephen and others were chosen.

ANSWER:In the Old Testament, lots were cast to determine the will or choice of God in a matter. The choosing of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot is the last time lots were used in Scripture (Acts 1). Matthias and Joseph Barsabas Justus were equally qualified to replace Judas. With prayer the choice was taken out of the hands of men and committed to God; then lots were cast. There was no argument or demur. All accepted the result of this casting of lots as God’s answer to the question before them.

Acts 2 follows immediately, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the believers who had been together for ten days awaiting His coming, according to the instructions the Lord gave just before leaving them and ascending to heaven. The Holy Spirit is sovereign, God Himself. The Lord Jesus told His own the night before His crucifixion (Jn. 14–16) that this Comforter or Helper would take His place among them. He would be in them and with them forever, guiding them into all truth.

We find this throughout the Acts. While in our Bibles this book is termed The Acts of the Apostles, it might be more accurate to refer to it as The Acts of the Holy Spirit, for we find this divine person of the Godhead speaking, making His will known, directing and empowering the believers in their activities. No longer was it needful to cast lots, for the Holy Spirit was with them to take God’s direction and make His will clear. This is evident in Acts 13:2-4, 16:6-10, 21:4,11 and elsewhere.

Romans 8 clearly shows that we believers are characterized by walking according to the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, and even having the Spirit helping in weaknesses as He intercedes for us according to the will of God. Galatians 5 points out that since we live in the Spirit we are to walk in the Spirit, and that we are not under law. Not only do we no longer bring animal sacrifices as the law commanded, but with the Holy Spirit indwelling us we are not under law in any way.

Indeed, all our life, worship and service should all be under the control of the Holy Spirit of God, as 1 Corinthians 12–14 makes clear to us.

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.