Exegetical Brief Acts 1:26 - Lottery or Election?

Abstract

John F. Brug examines the Greek text of Acts 1:26 to determine whether Matthias was chosen as Judas’s successor by casting lots or by election. While most translations and commentaries favor the lottery interpretation, Brug highlights that the Greek phrase used—ἔδωκαν κλήρους αὐτοῖς—is not the standard idiom for casting lots. He explores alternative meanings, including the possibility of assigning voting tokens or casting ballots. The rare verb συγκαταψηφίσθη may imply voting, and textual variants support this reading. Brug compares biblical and classical usage of terms related to lots and voting, concluding that linguistic evidence is inconclusive but slightly favors election. However, historical precedent in Israel for casting lots likely influenced the traditional interpretation. Regardless of the method, Brug emphasizes that the process ensured a qualified candidate was chosen. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)