Acts 1:15-26 Who is Matthias?

Acts 1:15-26 Matthias is selected to replace Judas as a disciple. Peter quotes Psalm  69:25 and Psalm 109:8 as a basis for choosing a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus and died. We might quibble about whether they should have waited until after the Holy Spirit came in order to make this decision, and whether or not the true twelfth disciple was Paul, not Matthias. Nevertheless, Peter set some criteria and then, with two qualified candidates, the disciples cast lots. I think that most modern churches would be uncomfortable with this procedure, but it is not clear that it is any worse than an election. If both men truly met Peter's criteria, than either would have been a good choice, and absent Holy Spirit guidance, Peter chose the only means he could think of to get God's will, as he clearly states in Acts 1:24. And not without precedent ... in Joshua 7:14-18 Achan was identified by the use of lots; Proverbs 16:33 says that every decision cast by lots is from The Lord. (See also Lev 16:8, Joshua 18:6-10, I Sam 14:42, I Chronicles 24:32, 25:8, 26:13-14, Nehemiah 10:34 & 11:1.) However, we see in Esther 3:27 & 9:4 and Jonah 1:7 that pagans also cast lots to get decisions, so there is some baggage with this approach. Luke 23:34 shows that even the Roman soldiers use the casting of lots to decide who should get Jesus' inner garment. Does Proverbs 16:33 give divine sanction to this method, or is it simply a reflection of the common belief in Solomon's time?

          Thank God, He has provided in the Holy Spirit a better means of selecting leaders, apostles, elders, pastors, and so forth. We will encounter this in action in Acts  6:3-5 and 13:2, as well as in the epistles (e.g. Titus 1:5-9). Peter had part of the process - he knew they should carefully examine the candidates, and that they should pray. And we shouldn't be too hard on him about not waiting for the Holy Spirit, because he did not yet at that time understand what the indwelling Holy Spirit would do. But we should recognize that in the era in which the Holy Spirit is poured out on, and indwells God's people, the process must hinge on His guidance.