Courts of Justice
Have authority from God -- Ro 13:1-5. Superior court Held first by Moses alone in the wilderness. -- Ex 18:13-20. Consisted subsequently of priests and Levites. -- De 17:9; Mal 2:7. Presided over by the governor or the high priest. -- De 17:12; Jdj 4:4,5. Held at the seat of government. -- De 17:8. Decided on all appeals and difficult cases. -- Ex 18:26; De 1:17; 17:8,9. Decisions of, conclusive. -- De 17:10,11. Inferior court In all cities. -- De 16:18; 2Ch 19:5-7. Held at the gates. -- Ge 34:20; De 16:18; 21:19; Job 5:4. Judges of, appointed by the governor. -- Ex 18:21,25; De 1:9-15; 2Sa 15:3. All minor cases decided by. -- Ex 18:26; 2Sa 15:4. All transfers of property made before. -- Ge 23:17-20; Ru 4:1,2. Re-established by Jehoshaphat -- 2Ch 19:5-10. Re-established by Ezra -- Ezr 7:25. Sanhedrim or court of the seventy Probably derived from the seventy elders appointed by Moses. -- Ex 24:9; Nu 11:16,17,24-30. Mentioned in the latter part of sacred history. -- Lu 22:66; Joh 11:47; Ac 5:27. Consisted of chief priest, &c. -- Mt 26:57,59. Presided over by high priest. -- Mt 26:62-66. Sat in high priest's palace. -- Mt 26:57,58. Of the romans in Judea Presided over by the governor or deputy. -- Mt 27:2,11; Ac 18:12. Place of, called the hall of judgment. -- Joh 18:28,33; 19:9. Never interfered in any dispute about minor matters or about religion. -- Ac 18:14,15. Could alone award death. -- Joh 18:31. Never examined their own citizens by torture. -- Ac 22:25-29. Appeals from, made to the emperor. -- Ac 25:11; 26:32; 28:19. Generally held in the morning -- Jer 21:12; Mt 27:1; Lu 22:66; Ac 5:21. Sometimes held in synagogues -- Mt 10:17; Ac 22:19; 26:11; Jas 2:2. Provided with Judges. -- De 16:18. Officers. -- De 16:18; Mt 5:25. Tormentors or executioners. -- Mt 18:34. Judges of Called elders. -- De 25:7; 1Sa 16:4. Called magistrates. -- Lu 12:58. Rode often on white asses. -- Jdj 5:10. To judge righteously. -- Le 19:15; De 1:6. To judge without respect of persons. -- Ex 23:3,6; Le 19:15; De 1:17; Pr 22:22. To investigate every case. -- De 19:18. Not to take bribes. -- Ex 23:8; De 16:19. To judge as for God. -- 2Ch 19:6,7,9. To decide according to the law. -- Eze 44:24. To promote peace. -- Zec 8:16. Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes. -- Ex 18:13; Jdj 5:10; Isa 28:6; Mt 27:19. Examined the parties. -- Ac 24:8. Conferred together before giving judgment. -- Ac 5:34-40; 25:12; 26:30,31. Pronounced the judgment of the court. -- Mt 26:65,66; Lu 23:24; Ac 5:40. Both the accusers and accused required to appear before -- De 25:1; Ac 25:16. Causes in, were opened by The complainant. -- 1Ki 3:17-21; Ac 16:19-21. An advocate. -- Ac 24:1. The accused Stood before the judge. -- Nu 35:12; Mt 27:11. Permitted to plead their own cause. -- 1Ki 3:22; Ac 24:10; 26:1. Might have advocates. -- Pr 31:8,9; Isa 1:17. Exhorted to confess. -- Jos 7:19. Examined on oath. -- Le 5:1; Mt 26:63. Sometimes examined by torture. -- Ac 22:24,29. Sometimes treated with insult. -- Mt 26:67; Joh 18:22,23; Ac 23:2,3. The evidence of two or more witnesses required in. -- De 17:6; 19:15; Joh 8:17; 2Co 13:1. Witnesses sometimes laid their hands on the criminal's head before punishment. -- Le 24:14. False witnesses in to receive the punishment of the accused -- De 19:19. Corruption and bribery often practised in -- Isa 10:1; Am 5:12; 8:6. The judgment of Not given till accused was heard. -- Joh 7:51. Recorded in writing. -- Isa 10:1. Immediately executed. -- De 25:2; Jos 7:25; Mr 15:15-20. Witnesses first to execute. -- De 17:7; Ac 7:58. Allusions to. -- Job 5:4; Ps 127:5; Mt 5:22. Illustrative of the last judgment. -- Mt 19:28; Ro 14:10; 1Co 6:2.