Bema* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Greek term for a judgment seat or tribunal of a Roman official. Although the term also means “to step” or “stride,” it was used in the first century AD primarily to denote an elevated area or platform (reached by steps) from which political orations or judicial decisions were made. Excavations in the city of Corinth have revealed a large, elaborately decorated bema located in the center of the marketplace.

In the NT, Jesus was questioned before the judgment seat of Pilate (Mt 27:19; Jn 19:13). Herod Agrippa I addressed the people of Tyre and Sidon from a bema (Acts 12:21). The apostle Paul was brought before the tribunal of Gallio in Corinth (18:12-17) and again before Festus’s tribunal in Caesarea (25:6, 10, 17 OET ACT 25:6 · OET ACT 25:10 · OET ACT 25:17).

Show passage in OET: MAT 27:19

OET-RV MAT 27:19

19 But while Pilatos was still making his judgement, his wife sent a note to him, saying, “Don’t touch that guiltless man because I was very distressed by a dream I had about him.”

OET-LV MAT 27:19

19 But him sitting on the tribunal, the wife of _him sent _out to him saying:
Let _be nothing to _you and the that righteous man, because/for I _suffered many things today in a_dream because _of him.

Show passage in OET: JHN 19:13

OET-RV JHN 19:13

13 So now Pilatos, having heard all this, brought Yeshua outside again. Pilatos sat down on the judge’s seat at a place called The Stone Pavement (and called Gabatha in Hebrew).

OET-LV JHN 19:13

13 Therefore the Pilatos, having _heard of_ the _messages these, brought outside the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), and he _sat _down on the_tribunal, at a_place being _called the_Stone _Pavement, But in _Hebraios, Gabbatha.

Show passage in OET: ACT 12:21

OET-RV ACT 12:21

21 On the agreed day, Herodes, dressed in his royal garments and seated on his throne, started to address them.

OET-LV ACT 12:21

21 And on_the_appointed day, the Haʸrōdaʸs, having _dressed _in the_royal clothing, having _sat _down on the tribunal, was _publicly _addressing to them.

Show passage in OET: ACT 18:12–17

OET-RV ACT 18:12

12 Then at the time when Gallion was the proconsul of Akaia, the Yehudim united against Paulos and brought a case to the tribunal against him

OET-RV ACT 18:13

13 saying, “This man is going against the law by persuading people to be worshipping his God.”

OET-RV ACT 18:14

14 But as Paulos opened his mouth to speak, Gallion said to the Yehudim, “I would have accepted this charge if it was a serious wrong or evil crime and would have listened to you Yehudim.

OET-RV ACT 18:15

15 However, since it’s a question about a message and names and your own law, you all can see to it yourselves because I don’t want to get involved in judging things like that.”

OET-RV ACT 18:16

16 So he sent them away from the tribunal,

OET-RV ACT 18:17

17 but they grabbed Sosthenes, the leader from the meeting hall, and beat him up right there in front of the tribunal. But Gallion took action to stop them.

OET-LV ACT 18:12

12 But Galliōn being proconsul of_ the _Aⱪaia, the Youdaiōns stood _against with _one _accord the against _Paulos, and they _led him to the tribunal

OET-LV ACT 18:13

13 saying, that Contrary _to the law, this man is _persuading, the people to _be _worshipping the god.

OET-LV ACT 18:14

14 But the Paulos going to _be _opening _up his mouth, the Galliōn said to the Youdaiōns:
If on _one _hand it _was a_certain wrong or evil crime, Oh Youdaiōns, according _to the_matter wishfully I _had _tolerated of _you _all,

OET-LV ACT 18:15

15 on _the _other _hand if it _is questions about a_message, and names, and law, which is among you _all, you _all _will _be _seeing to _it yourselves, I am_ not _wishing to _be a_judge of _these things.

OET-LV ACT 18:16

16 And he _drove_ them _away from the tribunal.

OET-LV ACT 18:17

17 And all having _taken _hold _of Sōsthenaʸs the synagogue _leader, they _were _striking him before the tribunal.
But nothing of _these things was _caring to_ the _Galliōn.

Show passage in OET: ACT 25:6; ACT 25:10; ACT 25:17

OET-RV ACT 25:6

6 After staying seven or eight days in Yerushalem, Festos and company travelled back to Kaisareia, and the next day he sat at the judge’s bench and ordered that Paulos be brought in.

OET-RV ACT 25:10

10 “I’m here facing Kaisar’s representative,” Paulos replied. “and it’s quite appropriate for me to be judged here. I’ve done nothing wrong to these Yehudim as you can no doubt see for yourself.

OET-RV ACT 25:17

17 So as soon as they arrived here, on the very next day I sat on the judge’s bench and ordered the man to be brought in

OET-LV ACT 25:6

6 And having _stayed among them not more eight or ten days, having _come _down to Kaisareia, on _the day of _next having _sat _down on the tribunal, he _commanded the Paulos to _be _brought.

OET-LV ACT 25:10

10 But the Paulos said:
Before the tribunal of _Kaisar having _stood I _am, where it _is _fitting me to _be _being _judged.
I _have _done_ nothing _wrong To_the_Youdaiōns, as also you very _well are _knowing.

OET-LV ACT 25:17

17 Therefore of _them having _come _together, here, having _made not _one delay, on _the_ next _day having _sat _down on the tribunal, I _commanded the man to _be _brought,

Jump to OET MAT 27:19 section.

Jump to OET JHN 19:13 section.

Jump to OET ACT 12:21 section.

Jump to OET ACT 18:12–17 section.

Jump to OET ACT 25:6 section. · OET ACT 25:10 section. · OET ACT 25:17 section.

In two passages, Paul used the term to refer to God’s judgment seat. In Romans 14:10 he warned those who would arrogantly judge others that all must stand before the tribunal of God. According to 2 Corinthians 5:10, the merits of each person’s work will be determined before the judgment seat of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 3:13-15).