Although we hope for reconciliation, we must gather evidence in the proper order in case we later need proof of what transpired. As community centers, synagogues doubled as local courts, a function they maintained when evaluating internal disputes in Diaspora Jewish communities (see comment on 10:17); Christians transferred the same function to churches (1 Cor 5:4-5; 6:1-5). Later Jewish teachers regularly echoed the judicial requirement of Deuteronomy 17:6-7 and 19:15; under such rules to speak evil of another without supporting witnesses warranted a public beating (Belkin 1940:267). The requirement of two witnesses remained standard judicial procedure among Christians (2 Cor 13:1-2; 1 Tim 5:19-20).