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
Then said Yahweh unto Moses - Gather thou unto me seventy men, from among the elders of Israel, of whom thou knowest that they are elders of the people and their overseers, - then shalt thou take them unto the tent of meeting, and they shall station themselves there with thee. Then will I come down, and speak with thee there, and will take of the spirit that is upon thee and put upon them, - and they shall carry, with thee, the burden of the people, and, thou, shalt not carry it by thyself.
And, when it became day, the Eldership of the people was gathered together - both High-priests and Scribes, - and they led him away into their high-council, saying - If, thou, art the Christ, tell us!
Pilate, therefore, said unto them - Ye, take him, and, according to your law, judge ye him. The Jews said unto him - Unto us, it is not allowed, to kill anyone! -
But, as they were speaking unto the people, the High-priests and the Captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, Being tired out because of their teaching the people, and announcing, in Jesus, the resurrection from among the dead; read more. And they thrust on them their hands, and put them in custody for the morrow, for it was evening, already. Howbeit, many of them that heard the word, believed; and the number of the men became about five thousand. And it came to pass, upon the morrow, that there were gathered together of them, the rulers and the elders and the scribes, in Jerusalem; Also Annas, the high-priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of high-priestly descent; - And, setting them in the midst, they began to enquire - In what manner of power, or in what manner of name, did, ye, do this? Then Peter, filled with Holy Spirit, said unto them - Ye rulers of the people, and elders! If, we, this day, are to be examined for doing good to a sick man, - in whom, this, man hath been made well, Be it known unto you all, and unto all the people of Israel: that, in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, - whom, ye, crucified, whom, God, raised from among the dead, in him, doth, this man stand by, in your presence, whole. This, is the stone, set at nought by you the builders, which became the head of the corner; And there is in no one else, salvation, for, neither is there any other name, under heaven, which hath been set forth among men, in which we must needs be saved. And, looking at Peter's boldness of speech, and John's, and having discovered that they were unlettered and obscure men, they began to marvel, recognising them also, that they had been with Jesus; Seeing, the man also standing, with them, even the man who had been cured, they had nothing wherewith to contradict. Howbeit, ordering them to go forth outside the high-council, they began to confer one with another, Saying - What are we to do with these men? For, indeed, that a notable sign hath come to pass through their means, unto all who are dwelling in Jerusalem, is manifest, and we cannot deny it ! Nevertheless, lest it further spread abroad among the people, let us charge them with threats, to be no more speaking upon this name, to any soul of man. And, calling them, they gave them the sweeping charge, - not to be sounding aloud, nor even to be teaching, upon the name of Jesus. But, Peter and John, answering, said unto them - Whether it be right in presence of God, unto you, to be hearkening, rather than unto God, judge! For, we, cannot but be speaking the things which we have seen and heard. They, however, further charging them with threats, let them go, finding nothing as to how they might chastise them, on account of the people; because, all, were glorifying God for that which had come to pass; - For, more than forty years old, was the man, upon whom had taken place, this healing sign. But, when they had been let go, they came unto their own friends , and told as many things as, unto them, the High-priests and Elders, had said.
But the High-priest, arising, and all who were with him, - being the sect of the Sadducees, - were filled with jealousy, And thrust their hands upon the Apostles, and put them in a public ward. read more. But, a messenger of the Lord, by night, opened the doors of the prison; and, leading them out, said - Be going your way, and, taking your stand, be speaking, in the temple, unto the people, all the declarations of this Life. Now, when they heard this, they entered, under the dawn, into the temple, and began teaching. And the High-priest and they who were with him, arriving, called together the high-council, and all the senate of the sons of Israel; and sent off unto the prison, to have them brought. And, the officers who came to the place, found them not in the prison; and, returning, brought tidings, Saying - The prison, found we locked with all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors; but, when we had opened the prison, inside, found we, no one. Now, when both the captain of the temple and the High-priests heard these words, they were utterly at a loss concerning them - what perhaps this might come to. But some one, entering, brought tidings unto them - Lo! the men whom ye put in the prison, are in the temple, standing, and teaching the people! Then, the captain with the officers, departing, brought them - not with violence, - for they were afraid of the people, lest they should be stoned; But, leading them in, set them in the high- council. And the High-priest questioned them, Saying - Strictly, did we charge you not to be teaching upon this name; and lo! ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are minded to bring down upon us, the blood of this man. But Peter and the Apostles, answering, said - It is needful to be yielding obedience unto God rather than unto men: - The God of our fathers, hath raised up Jesus, - whom, ye, got into your hands, suspending him upon a tree: - Him, as Princely-leader and Saviour, hath God exalted unto his right hand, - to give repentance unto Israel, and remission of sins. And, we, are witnesses of these things, - also the Holy Spirit, which God hath given unto them who are yielding obedience unto him. And, they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were making up their minds to slay them. But a certain man, rising up in the high-council, by name Gamaliel, a law-teacher honoured by all the people, gave orders to put the men, outside, for a little, - And said unto them - Men of Israel! be taking heed unto yourselves, what ye are about to inflict upon these men. For, before these days, there rose up one Theudas, affirming, himself, to be somebody, - unto whom was inclined a number of men, about four hundred; who was slain, and, all as many as had been trusting in him, were disbanded, and came to nothing. After him, rose up Judas the Galilaean, in the days of the enrolling, and drew a people into revolt after him; and, he, perished, and, all, as many as had trusted in him, were scattered. Now, therefore, I say unto you - stand aloof from these men, and let them alone; because if, of men, be this project or this work, it will be overthrown, - But, if it is, of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them: lest once, even fighters against God, ye be found. And they were persuaded by him; and, calling unto them the Apostles, they, with beating, charged them not be speaking upon the name of Jesus; and let them go. They, therefore, went rejoicing from the presence of the high-council; in that they had been accounted worthy, in behalf of The Name, to suffer dishonour.
And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes; and, coming upon him, they caught him away, and led him into the high-council. And they set up false witnesses, who said - This man, ceaseth not speaking things against this holy place and the law; read more. For we have heard him saying - This Jesus the Nazarene, will overthrow this place, and will change the customs which, Moses, delivered unto us. And, looking steadfastly at him, all they who were sitting in the high-council, saw his face, as if the face of a messenger;
But, on the morrow, being minded to get to know the certainty as to why he was being accused by the Jews, he released him, and ordered the High-priests and all the High-council to come together; and, bringing down Paul, set him before them.
And Paul, looking steadfastly, at the High-council, said - Brethren! I, in all good conscience have used my citizenship for God until this day. And, the High-priest, Ananias, ordered them that stood by him, to be smiting him on the mouth. read more. Then, Paul, unto him, said - God is about to be smiting thee, thou whited wall! Dost, thou, then sit to judge me according to the law, and, unlawfully, orderest me to be smitten? And, they who stood by, said - The High-priest of God, dost thou revile? And Paul said - I was not aware, brethren, that he was high-priest; because it is written - Of a ruler of thy people, shalt thou not speak injuriously. But Paul, getting to know that, the one part, were Sadducees and, the other, Pharisees, began to cry aloud in the council - Brethren! I, am, a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: - Concerning a hope, even of a rising again of the dead, am I to be judged. And, as this he was saying, there arose a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees; and rent asunder was the throng. For, Sadducees, say, there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, whereas, Pharisees, confess them both. And there arose a great outcry, and certain of the Scribes of the party of the Pharisees, standing up, began to strive, saying - Nothing bad, find we in this man; - but, if a spirit hath spoken unto him, or a messenger -- And, great dissension arising, the captain, fearing lest Paul would be torn in pieces by them, ordered the troop to go down, and take him by force out of their midst, to bring him into the castle.