Those present, probably the other apostles, nominated two apparently equally qualified men. Joseph is a Hebrew name, Barsabbas is Aramaic meaning "Son of the Sabbath," and Justus is Roman. Matthias is Hebrew and is a short form of Mattithia. The apostles then prayed for the Lord to indicate which one He chose (cf. Acts 6:6; Acts 13:3; Acts 14:23; 1 Samuel 22:10; 1 Samuel 23:2; 1 Samuel 23:4; 1 Samuel 23:10-12). They acknowledged that only God knows people"s hearts ( 1 Samuel 16:7) and did not make the mistake that the Israelites did when they chose King Saul. They wanted God to identify the man after His heart as He had done with David. Next they cast lots probably by drawing one of two designated stones out of a container or by throwing down specially marked objects (cf. Leviticus 16:8; Joshua 14:2; 1 Samuel 14:41-42; Nehemiah 10:34; Nehemiah 11:1; Proverbs 16:33). The ancient Greeks often used pebbles in voting, black for condemning and white for acquitting. [1] The Lord identified Matthias as His sovereign choice to fulfill the ministry (service) and apostleship (office) of Judas. Judas" "own place" was a place different from that of the Eleven, namely, perdition. Matthias received no further mention in the New Testament. Legend has it that he died as a martyr in Ethiopia. [2][source]
". . . it was not enough to possess the qualifications other apostles had. Judas"s successor must also be appointed by the same Lord who appointed the Eleven." [3][source]
This instance of casting lots to determine God"s will is the last one the New Testament writers recorded. This was not a vote. Casting lots was necessary before the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but when He came He provided the guidance inwardly that God had formerly provided externally. Christians do not need to cast lots to determine God"s will since now the indwelling Holy Spirit provides that guidance. He does so objectively through Scripture and subjectively through impressing His will on yielded believers in response to prayer. [source][source][source]
Was Peter correct in leading the believers to recognize a twelfth apostle, or did God intend Paul to be the replacement? Several commentators believed that Paul was God"s intended replacement. [4] Paul was, of course, an apostle with authority equal to that of the Twelve. However, Paul had not been with Jesus during His earthly ministry. Luke , Paul"s friend, spoke of the Twelve without equivocation as an official group ( Acts 2:14; Acts 6:2). Furthermore the distinctly Jewish nature of the future ministry of the Twelve ( Matthew 19:28) supports Paul"s exclusion from this group. His ministry was primarily to the Gentiles ( Galatians 2:9). Paul never claimed to be one of the Twelve, though he did contend that his official apostleship had come to him as a direct commission from the Lord. However, it came from the risen Lord, and he considered himself abnormally born as an apostle ( 1 Corinthians 15:7-8). Finally, there is no hint in Scripture that the decision made on this occasion was a mistake. [source][source][source]
". . . the pericope suggests that a Christian decision regarding vocation entails (1) evaluating personal qualifications, (2) earnest prayer, and (3) appointment by Christ himself-an appointment that may come in some culturally related fashion, but in a way clear to those who seek guidance." [3][source]
"Matthew concludes with the Resurrection, Mark with the Ascension, Luke with the promise of the Holy Spirit, and John with the promise of the Second Coming. Acts 1brings all four records together and mentions each of them. The four Gospels funnel into Acts , and Acts is the bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles." [6][source]