Now while he was on the bench his wife sent to him to say, "Do not have anything to do with that upright man, for I have just had a painful experience in a dream about him."

When Pilate heard that, he had Jesus brought out and had him sit in the judge's seat in the place they call the Stone Platform, or in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

While Gallio was governor of Greece the Jews made a concerted attack upon Paul, and brought him before the governor.

And he drove them away from the court.

After staying only eight or ten days there, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day took his place in the judge's chair, and ordered Paul brought in.

But Paul said, "I am standing before the emperor's court, where I ought to be tried. I have done the Jews no wrong, as you can easily see.

So they came back here with me and the next day without losing any time I took my place in the judge's chair and ordered the man brought in.

What business have you to criticize your brother? What business have you to look down upon your brother? We shall all have to stand before God for judgment.

Do you not know that the Christians are to be the judges of the world? And if the world is to come before you for judgment, are you unfit to decide the most trivial cases?

If then you have ordinary matters to be settled, will you submit them for judgment to men who are nothing in the church?

Listen, my dear brothers. Has not God chosen the world's poor to be rich in faith, and to possess the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?