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; Jud 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, 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 magistra
tes Lu 12:58 . Rode often on white asses Jud 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; Jud 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