EXP:Scribe  by Jim Fox

   The word "scribe" means writer. They were public writers who would
write from dictation, and they would draw up legal documents. But even
more than this they were copiers of the Law and other parts of the
Scripture.

   They devoted themselves to:

   1. The study of the interpretation of the Law, and its application
to daily life. Their decisions would become the Oral Law or tradition.

   2. To study the Scripture generally, regarding historical and
doctrinal matters.

   3. To teaching, each noted scribe would have a company of disciples
about him.

   Some characteristics of the scribes.

   Many were mambers of the Sanhedrin (Matt 16:21; 26:3).

   Some scribes believed in Jesus (Matt 8:19).

   Most scribes were prejudiced against Jesus (Matt 21:15).

   The scribes were associated in the persucutions of Peter and John
(Acts 4:5).

   The scribes were associated in the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 6:12).

   Before the exile the Levites were responsible to copy, teach, and
explain the Law. Later though, it was gradually put into the hands of
the scribes.

   SOURCES: Richards Expository Dictionary of Bible words Basic Bible
Doctrine by Day The OPEN Bible, NASB