New Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rev. R. A. Torrey

Courts of Justice

• Have authority from God Rom. 13:1-5
• Superior court
  • Held first by Moses alone in the wilderness Ex. 18:13-20
  • Consisted subsequently of priests and Levites Dt. 17:9; Mal. 2:7
  • Presided over by the governor or the high priest Dt. 17:12; Judg. 4:4, 5
  • Held at the seat of government Dt. 17:8
  • Decided on all appeals and difficult cases Ex. 18:26; Dt. 1:17, 17:8, 9
  • Decisions of, conclusive Dt. 17:10, 11
• Inferior court
  • In all cities Dt. 16:18; 2 Chr. 19:5-7
  • Held at the gates Gen. 34:20; Dt. 16:18, 21:19; Job 5:4
  • Judges of, appointed by the governor Ex. 18:21, 25; Dt. 1:9-15; 2 Sam. 15:3
  • All minor cases decided by Ex. 18:26; 2 Sam. 15:4
  • All transfers of property made before Gen. 23:17-20; Ruth 4:1, 2
• Re-established by Jehoshaphat 2 Chr. 19:5-10
• Re-established by Ezra Ezra 7:25
• Sanhedrin or court of the seventy
  • Probably derived from the seventy elders appointed by Moses Ex. 24:9; Num. 11:16, 17, 24-30
  • Mentioned in the latter part of sacred history Lk. 22:66; Jn. 11:47; Acts 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; Acts 18:12
  • Place of, called the hall of judgment Jn. 18:28, 33, 19:9
  • Never interfered in any dispute about minor matters or about religion Acts 18:14, 15
  • Could alone award death Jn. 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 Jer. 21:12; Mt. 27:1; Lk. 22:66; Acts 5:21
• Sometimes held in synagogues Mt. 10:17; Acts 22:19, 26:11; Jas. 2:2
• Provided with
  • Judges Dt. 16:18
  • Officers Dt. 16:18; Mt. 5:25
  • Tormentors or executioners Mt. 18:34
• Judges of
  • Called elders Dt. 25:7; 1 Sam. 16:4
  • Called magistrates Lk. 12:58
  • Rode often on white asses Judg. 5:10
  • To judge righteously Lev. 19:15; Dt. 1:16
  • To judge without respect of persons Ex. 23:3, 6; Lev. 19:15; Dt. 1:17; Pr. 22:22
  • To investigate every case Dt. 19:18
  • Not to take bribes Ex. 23:8; Dt. 16:19
  • To judge as for God 2 Chr. 19:6, 7, 9
  • To decide according to the law Ezek. 44:24
  • To promote peace Zech. 8:16
  • Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes Ex. 18:13; Judg. 5:10; Isa. 28:6; Mt. 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 Mt. 26:65, 66; Lk. 23:24; Acts 5:40
• Both the accusers and accused required to appear before Dt. 25:1; Acts 25:16
• Causes in, were opened by
  • The complainant 1 Ki. 3:17-21; Acts 16:19-21
  • An advocate Acts 24:1
• The accused
  • Stood before the judge Num. 35:12; Mt. 27:11
  • Permitted to plead their own cause 1 Ki. 3:22; Acts 24:10, 26:1
  • Might have advocates Pr. 31:8, 9; Isa. 1:17
  • Exhorted to confess Josh. 7:19
  • Examined on oath Lev. 5:1; Mt. 26:63
  • Sometimes examined by torture Acts 22:24, 29
  • Sometimes treated with insult Mt. 26:67; Jn. 18:22, 23; Acts 23:2, 3
  • The evidence of two or more witnesses required in Dt. 17:6, 19:15; Jn. 8:17; 2 Cor. 13:1
  • Witnesses sometimes laid their hands on the criminal's head before punishment Lev. 24:14
• False witnesses in to receive the punishment of the accused Dt. 19:19
• Corruption and bribery often practiced in Isa. 10:1; Amos 5:12, 8:6
• The judgment of
  • Not given till accused was heard Jn. 7:51
  • Recorded in writing Isa. 10:1
  • Immediately executed Dt. 25:2; Josh. 7:25; Mk. 15:15-20
  • Witnesses first to execute Dt. 17:7; Acts 7:58
  • Allusions to Job 5:4; Ps. 127:5; Mt. 5:22
  • Illustrative of the last judgment Mt. 19:28; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 6:2