And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (24) And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen, (25) That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. (26) And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The casting lots with an eye to the Lord, was agreeable to Scripture, Proverbs 16:33. And the Scape Goat was chosen in the same manner, Leviticus 16:8. But let not the Reader overlook what is said, of his going to his own place. For whether this refers to Matthias or to Judas, the doctrine is the same. Every man hath his own place. Hence, the Psalmist, describing the assembly of the wicked in hell, and the succession of characters for that place, saith: he shall follow the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light, Psalms 59:17. And where is that? Like sheep, (saith he), they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them. The old translation hath it: they lie in the hell like sheep. For the double death, is first in the grave, and secondly in hell. And hence David takes comfort, that God had re deemed his soul from the power of hell: for saith he, he shall receive me. Hence every man, both in life, and death, goeth to his own place. Reader! ponder well the striking subject! Oh! the vast difference, between the precious, and the vile: between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.