Corinth scenes with Bema

The ruins of ancient Corinth include the impressive Temple to Apollo, the only structure on the site with tall columns standing. Built in 650 BC, it once had 38 columns. Only seven are still standing. The final scene in this clip is of the bema, which served as a court for the city. A judge sat on the bema as people brought their cases to him. When Sosthenes brought Paul to the tribunal of Corinth (Acts 18:12-17), the case would have been heard at this location. Paul would later use the image of a bema to speak of a place where Christians would be judged (note the Greek “bematos” in 2 Corinthians 5:10). In addition to judging cases at the bema, people might be praised at such a location. Athletes or warriors might be honored there. If someone had acted heroically, the city might bring the person to the bema so his or her deeds could be known to all.