Just a few points ...
1) The reason for choosing another member of the group so that the apostles number 12 again - the NAB says ... The need to replace Judas was probably dictated by the symbolism of the number twelve, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. This symbolism also indicates that for Luke (see ⇒ Luke 22:30) the Christian church is a reconstituted Israel.
2) I could be wrong about this, but perhaps the part about Judas' intestines exploding was just a matter of writing style? We think of graphic violence as being a modern thing but ancient Greek literature was often violent ... an example from the poem, Battle of Frogs and Mice (Hesiod or Homer?) ... But Croakperson kept him off and rushing at the Mouse in turn, hit him in the middle of the belly and drove the whole reed spear into him, and as he drew the spear back to him with his strong hand, all his foe's bowels gushed out upon the ground.
3) The really interesting part of this passage is the drawing of lots, I think. The Old Testament has a number of references to drawing lots, which was then seen to be a fair way of choosing ... "The lot causeth disputes to cease, and it decideth between the mighty' - Proverbs 18:18. ... an interesting article on the history of drawing/casting lots - link.
This is very different from using discernment to decide issues and make choices. A ggod example of this way of deciding can be seen here ... Decision-Making - A More Useful Format For Discerning - John Veltri SJ ... which takes into account not only the influences of good and bad spiritus and the grace of God, but also personal responcibility.
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1 comment:
The part about guts is repeated as I recall later in Acts, describing the last moment of Herod (who had murdered John the B.)
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