bema denotes a judicial seat or tribunal before which a ruler sits and persons may be brought or stand.

The attested use predominantly concerns a judicial seat or tribunal: officials sit there, people are brought before it or stand before it, and judgment is in view. In Acts 7:5, the term's specific contribution cannot be isolated from the translation’s statement about receiving no inheritance.

1. Judicial seat or tribunal · dominant

   The singular noun occurs in judicial settings: in Acts 18:12 the APB renders Paul as brought "before the tribunal," while Acts 25:6 and Acts 25:17 describe an official sitting there and ordering a man brought. In Acts 25:10 and Romans 14:10, the clauses place persons before a ruler's or God's judicial seat for judgment.

   Acts 18:12Acts 25:6Acts 25:17Acts 25:10Romans 14:102 Corinthians 5:10

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the judicial passages, the APB variously uses "judgment seat," "tribunal," and "judgement-seat." In Acts 7:5, its wording "not even a footstep" does not make the lemma's specific contribution clear.