The Sanhedrin

What we commonly refer to as the Sanhedrin is called “the council” in the New Testament. “The council” is translated from a Greek word (sunedrion) which generally means “Sitting Together.”

During Jesus’ time, the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem was a 71-member group of men that met daily (with the exception of the Sabbath and holidays) in a room that adjoined the Temple. The Sanhedrin developed during the Intertestamental Period and ceased to have credible power after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. In addition to this most powerful Sanhedrin that met at the Temple, each city could have its own smaller Sanhedrin, made up of 23 members. It was called a Lesser Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin was comprised of chief priests, prominent family members related to the chief priests, scribes (legal professionals), Pharisees, Sadducees, and other qualified elders. Apparently, the head of the Sanhedrin was the High (Chief) Priest.

The Sanhedrin had diverse responsibilities: legislative, judicial, and administrative. These men were experts on religious law. They established and enforced religious and civil order. The Sanhedrin served as a court that resolved issues brought to it by Lesser Sanhedrins.

Jesus (Matthew 26), Peter and John (Acts 4), Peter and the other apostles (Acts 5), Stephen (Acts 6), and Paul (Acts 22-25) were all brought before the council, or Sanhedrin, for questioning and judgment.

Gamaliel (Acts 5:34) and his student Paul (Acts 23:6) were Sanhedrin members. It is highly likely that Joseph of Arimathaea (Mark 15:43) and Nicodemus (John 3:1) were also part of the council.