Have Authority from God Romans 13:1-5

Superior Court

Held first by Moses alone in the wilderness Exodus 18:13-20

Consisted subsequently of priests and Levites Deuteronomy 17:9, Malachi 2:7

Presided over by the governor or the high priest Deuteronomy 17:12, Judges 4:4, 5

Held at the seat of government Deuteronomy 17:8

Decided on all appeals and difficult cases Exodus 18:26, Deuteronomy 1:17, 17:8, 9

Decisions of, conclusive Deuteronomy 17:10, 11

Inferior Court

In all cities Deuteronomy 16:18, 2 Chronicles 19:5-7

Held at the gates Genesis 34:20, Deuteronomy 16:18, 21:19, Job 5:4

Judges of, appointed by the governor Exodus 18:21, 25, Deuteronomy 1:9-15, 2 Samuel 15:3

All minor cases decided by Exodus 18:26, 2 Samuel 15:4

All transfers of property made before Genesis 23:17-20, Ruth 4:1, 2

Re-Established by Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 19:5-10

Re-Established by Ezra Ezra 7:25

Sanhedrim or Court of the Seventy

Probably derived from the seventy elders appointed by Moses Exodus 24:9, Numbers 11:16, 17, 24-30

Mentioned in the latter part of sacred history Luke 22:66, John 11:47, Acts 5:27

Consisted of chief priest, &c Matthew 26:57, 59

Presided over by high priest Matthew 26:62-66

Sat in high priest's palace Matthew 26:57, 58

Of the Romans in Judea

Presided over by the governor or deputy Matthew 27:2, 11, Acts 18:12

Place of, called the hall of judgment John 18:28, 33, 19:9

Never interfered in any dispute about minor matters or about religion Acts 18:14, 15

Could alone award death John 18:31

Never examined their own citizens by torture Acts 22:25-29

Appeals from, made to the emperor Acts 25:11, 26:32, 28:19

Generally Held in the Morning Jeremiah 21:12, Matthew 27:1, Luke 22:66, Acts 5:21

Sometimes Held in Synagogues Matthew 10:17, Acts 22:19, 26:11, James 2:2

Provided With

Judges Deuteronomy 16:18

Officers Deuteronomy 16:18, Matthew 5:25

Tormentors or executioners Matthew 18:34

Judges Of

Called elders Deuteronomy 25:7, 1 Samuel 16:4

Called magistrates Luke 12:58

Rode often on white asses Judges 5:10

To judge righteously Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 1:6

To judge without respect of persons Exodus 23:3, 6, Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 1:17, Proverbs 22:22

To investigate every case Deuteronomy 19:18

Not to take bribes Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:19

To judge as for God 2 Chronicles 19:6, 7, 9

To decide according to the law Ezekiel 44:24

To promote peace Zechariah 8:16

Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes Exodus 18:13, Judges 5:10, Isaiah 28:6, Matthew 27:19

Examined the parties Acts 24:8

Conferred together before giving judgment Acts 5:34-40, 25:12, 26:30, 31

Pronounced the judgment of the court Matthew 26:65, 66, Luke 23:24, Acts 5:40

Both the accusers and accused required to appear before Deuteronomy 25:1, Acts 25:16

Causes In, Were Opened By

The complainant 1 Kings 3:17-21, Acts 16:19-21

An advocate Acts 24:1

The Accused

Stood before the judge Numbers 35:12, Matthew 27:11

Permitted to plead their own cause 1 Kings 3:22, Acts 24:10, 26:1

Might have advocates Proverbs 31:8, 9, Isaiah 1:17

Exhorted to confess Joshua 7:19

Examined on oath Leviticus 5:1, Matthew 26:63

Sometimes examined by torture Acts 22:24, 29

Sometimes treated with insult Matthew 26:67, John 18:22, 23, Acts 23:2, 3

The evidence of two or more witnesses required in Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, John 8:17, 2 Corinthians 13:1

Witnesses sometimes laid their hands on the criminal's head before punishment Leviticus 24:14

False witnesses in to receive the punishment of the accused Deuteronomy 19:19

Corruption and Bribery Often Practised In Isaiah 10:1, Amos 5:12, 8:6

The Judgment Of

Not given till accused was heard John 7:51

Recorded in writing Isaiah 10:1

Immediately executed Deuteronomy 25:2, Joshua 7:25, Mark 15:15-20

Witnesses first to execute Deuteronomy 17:7, Acts 7:58

Allusions to Job 5:4, Psalm 127:5, Matthew 5:22

Illustrative of the last judgment Matthew 19:28, Romans 14:10, 1 Corinthians 6:2