There were three doors at the back of the judges' seats which led into another apartment, filled likewise with seats.

This room was used for secret consultation.

Entrances placed on the right and left hand sides of this room opened into the interior court, which was round, like the back of the building.

Those who left the room by the door on the righthand side saw on the left-hand side of the court the gate which led to a subterranean prison excavated under the room.

There were many underground prisons there, and it was in one of these that Peter and John were confined a whole night, when they had cured the lame man in the Temple after Pentecost.