Reference: Sanhedrin Or Sanhedrim
Morish
The Greek word is ?????????, 'a sitting together': it is always translated 'council' in the A.V. There appears to be no Hebrew equivalent to the name. The Jews trace its origin to the seventy elders chosen to assist Moses, Nu 11:16-17; but nothing is said of such a council in the time of the kingdom; and it is probable that it was instituted in the time of the Maccabees. The early writers do not say how it was composed; from the N.T. we find it consisted of the chief priests, or heads of the twenty-four courses, the elders, lawyers, and the scribes. It was the highest court of the Jews, acting 'in all causes, and over all persons, ecclesiastical and civil.' Its decisions were binding on Jews everywhere. Its powers were curtailed by Herod and afterwards by the Romans, who prevented the Jews from putting any one to death legally. Joh 18:31. The Lord, Lu 22:66; Peter and John, Ac 4:1-23; 5:17-41; Stephen, Ac 6:12-15; and Paul, Ac 22:30; 23:1-10; were arraigned before the Sanhedrin.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And LORD said to Moses, Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them. And bring them to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there. And I will take from the Spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou not bear it thyself alone.
And when it became day, the eldership of the people, the chief priests, and the scholars, came together, and led him into their council, saying,
Pilate therefore said to them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him, It is not permitted for us to kill any man,
And as they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees approached them, being greatly annoyed because of their teaching the people, and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. read more. And they threw hands on them, and put them in custody for the morrow, for it was now evening. But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, to be assembled in Jerusalem, their rulers, and elders, and scholars, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the high priestly family. And after placing them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this? Then Peter being filled with Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are examined today about a good deed, of a feeble man, by what this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this, this man stands here before you healthy. This is the stone that was rejected by you who build, which became into the head of the corner. And salvation is not in any other man, for there is no other name under the heaven, that has been given among men, by which we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are illiterate and uneducated men, they marveled. And they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to contradict. But after commanding them to go outside of the council, they conferred among each other, saying, What will we do to these men? For that indeed a notable sign has happened by them, is apparent to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it may not spread on further among the people, let us threaten them with threats to speak no longer in this name, to not one man. And having called them, they commanded them entirely, not to utter nor to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John having replied to them, they said, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken to you rather than God, judge ye. For we are not able not to speak what we saw and heard. And they, having further threatened, released them, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people. Since all glorified God for that which happened. For the man was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had occurred. And after being released, they went to their own men, and reported as many things as the chief priests and the elders said to them.
But after rising up, the high priest and all those with him (being the sect of the Sadducees) were filled of envy. And they threw their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison. read more. But an agent of Lord opened the prison doors by night, and after leading them out, he said, Go ye, and after standing in the temple, speak to the people all the sayings of this Life. And having heard, they entered into the temple at early morning, and taught. But the high priest having arrived, and those with him, they called the council together, and all the senate of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the p But the subordinates who came did not find them in the prison. And having returned, they reported, saying, We found the prison indeed shut in all security, and the guards standing before the doors, but after opening, we found no man inside. Now when they heard these words, the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests, were perplexed about them, whatever this would become. But a certain man who arrived, reported to them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then after departing, the captain with the subordinates brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they would be stoned. And having brought them, they placed them in the council. And the high priest demanded them, saying, Did we not command by an order for you not to teach in this name? And behold, ye have filled Jerusalem of your doctrine, and intend to bring upon us this man's blood. And Peter and the apostles having answered, they said, We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye murdered, having hung on a tree. God exalted this man with his right hand, a Pathfinder and a Savior to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him. And when they heard this, they were as being split with a saw, and wanted to annihilate them. But after standing up in the council, a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a law teacher, esteemed by all the people, commanded to make the apostles be outside a little while. And he said to them, Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves what ye are going to do against these men. For before these days Theudas rose up saying himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, bonded themselves, who was killed. And all, as many as were persuaded by him, were dispersed and developed into nothi After this man Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the registration, and drew a considerable crowd behind him. That man was also destroyed, and all, as many as were persuaded by him, were scattered. And now I say to you, keep away from these men, and let them go, because if the project or this work is from men, it will be overthrown, but if it is from God, ye cannot overthrow it, and perhaps ye may be found to be fighting against God. And they were persuaded by him. And after summoning the apostles, having beat them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. Indeed therefore they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to be treated shamefully for the name of Jesus.
And they incited the people, and the elders, and the scholars. And after approaching, they seized him, and brought him to the council. And they put forward FALSE witnesses who said, This man does not cease speaking blasphemous sayings against the holy place, and the law. read more. For we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place, and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us. And all who sat in the council, having gazed upon him, saw his face like a face of a heavenly agent.
But on the morrow, wanting to know the certainty of why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to come. And having brought Paul down, he set him before them.
And Paul, after looking intently at the council, said, Men, brothers, I have been a citizen in all good conscience to God until this day. And the high priest Ananias ordered those who stood by him to strike his mouth. read more. Then Paul said to him, God is going to smite thee, a whitewashed wall. Thou even sit judging me according to the law, and violating law, thou command me to be struck? And those who stood by said, Thou revile God's high priest? And Paul said, I had not known, brothers, that he is high priest, for it is written, Thou shall not speak ill of a ruler of thy people. But when Paul ascertained that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, son of a Pharisee. About the hope and resurrection of the dead I am judged. And when he said this, there developed a conflict of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group was divided. For in fact Sadducees say to be no resurrection nor heavenly agent nor spirit, but Pharisees acknowledge them all. And there developed a great clamor. And some of the scholars of the Pharisees part having risen, they argued vehemently, saying, We find nothing wrong in this man. But if a spirit spoke to him, or a heavenly agent, we should not fi And a great conflict having developed, the chief captain, having been alarmed lest Paul might be torn apart by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from the midst of them, and bring him into the fort.