trial Summary and Overview

Information on the subject of trials under the Jewish law will be found in the articles on JUDGES and SANHEDRIN, and also in JESUS CHRIST.

TRI'AL . Judicial procedure was usually very swift and simple; no such formalities as are common with us could have existed in the patriarchal or the Mosaic days. The patriarchs were the natural guardians of the public peace. When the Israelites had multiplied into a great nation and were living in the wilderness, Moses found his attempted imitation of the patriarchal judgeship was too laborious, and therefore gladly adopted the suggestion of Jethro and appointed inferior judges for minor cases. Ex 18:13-26; Deut 1:9-17. There is an appearance of appellate courts in Judah in the days of Jehoshaphat. Originally, it is probable, each man or woman pleaded for himself or herself; but when the Jews passed under the Roman domain, they were required to hire pleaders. Acts 24:1-9. Judges are repeatedly exhorted to act justly. Deut 16:18-19; Isa 1:23-24; Luke 18:1-6. In criminal cases at least two witnesses were necessary. Deut 17:6; 1 Kgs 19:15. If the witnesses swore falsely, then they were to be punished as the accused would have been had he been guilty. Deut 19:16-21. The cases of Christ and Stephen illustrated how short an interval elapsed between sentence and execution.

(See JUDGES; COUNCIL; LAW; PILATE.) In Acts 19:38, margin, "the court days are now being kept," i.e. the court is now sitting, "and there are deputies." The assembly of citizens then sitting formed the conventus, out of which the "deputy" or proconsul (anthupatos) selected "judices" or assessors (anthupatoi); thus the court consisted of the proconsul and his assessors.