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 when it was day, the eldership of the people was convened, and the chief priests and scribes, and they led Him into their sanhedrim.
Then Pilate said to them. You take Him, and judge Him according to your law. Then the Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to kill any one.
And they speaking to the people, the priests and captain of the temple and the Sadducees rose up against them, being grieved because they were teaching the people and preaching the resurrection of the dead through Jesus; read more. and they laid hands on them and put them in prison till the morrow; for it was already evening. And many of those hearing the word believed, and the number of men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, the rulers and elders and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, and Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and so many as were of the family of the high priest. And having set them in the midst, asked them, By what power or in what name have you done this? Then Peter being full of the Holy Spirit said to them, Ye rulers of the people and elders, if we are this day judged for the benefaction of the impotent man, by whom he has been saved, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, through him this man now stands sound in your presence. This is the stone rejected by your builders, which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no other; for there is no other name given under heaven among men by which it behooveth us to he saved. And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and apprehending that they are unlearned and ignorant men, they continued to be astonished, and recognized them, that they were with Jesus; and seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. And having commanded them to depart out from the assembly, they conferred with one another, saying, What can we do to these men? for that a notable miracle has been wrought by them is indeed manifest to all dwelling at Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it; but that it may extend no further unto the people, let us threaten them to speak no more in this name to any one of men. And having called them, they command them, not at all to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. And Peter and John responding said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than God, judge ye; for we are not able not to speak those things which we have seen and heard. And they having threatened them, in addition sent them away, finding nothing to the end that they can punish them, on account of the people, because all continued to glorify God over that which had taken place; for the man on whom this miracle of healing was wrought was more than forty years old. And having been released they came to their own people, and proclaimed so many things as the chief priests and elders said to them.
And the high priest and all those being with him, being the sect of the Sadducees, were filled with rage, and laid hands on the apostles, and placed them in the public prison. read more. And the angel of the Lord, having opened the doors of the prison during the night, and leading them out said, Go, and standing in the temple, speak to the people all the words of this life. And hearing, they came into the temple at daydawn, and were teaching. And the high priest coming and those with him, called together the sanhedrim and all the eldership of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to bring them. And the officers arriving found them not in the prison; and having returned, reported, saying; We found the prison closed with all safety, and the guards standing at the doors, and having opened, we found no one within. And when the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were at a loss concerning them, what this might be. And a certain one coming announced to them, Behold, the men whom you placed in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then the captain along with the officers, having gone away, led them, not with violence, for they feared the people lest they might be stoned. And leading them, they placed them in the council, and the chief priests asked them, saying, With commandment we commanded you not to teach in this name; and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching; and you are determined to bring upon us the blood of this man. But Peter and the apostles responding said, It behooves us to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you have slain, hanging him on the wood; Him hath God exalted at His own right hand, a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel. And we are witnesses of these words, and the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to those who obey him. And hearing, they were cut through and were minded to kill them. But a certain Pharisee, Gamaliel by name, a teacher of the law, honorable to all the people, rising in the sanhedrim command them to put the men out for a short time, and he said to them; Israelitish men, take heed to yourselves in reference to these men what you are about to do. For before these days Theudas arose, saying that he was somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, adhered, who were slain, and all, so many as confided in him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean arose, in the days of the enrollment, and led the people after him; he also perished, and all, so many as confided in him, were scattered abroad. And I now say this to you: Stand aloof from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it be of God, you will not be able to destroy them, lest perchance you may also be found fighting against God. And they obeyed him, and having called the apostles, beating them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and sent them away. Then they departed from the face of the sanhedrim, rejoicing indeed, because they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of his name.
And they excited the people and the elders and scribes, and coming upon him, seized him, and led him into the council, and they raised up false witnesses, saying, This man does not cease speaking words against this holy place and the law; read more. for we have heard him saying, that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses delivered unto us. And all sitting in the council, having fixed their eyes on him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
And on the following day, wishing to know the certainty as to what he is accused of by the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the sanhedrin to come together, and leading down Paul, he placed him in their midst.
And Paul, looking the sanhedrim in the face, said, Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing near him to smite him in the mouth. read more. Then Paul said to him, God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall: indeed thou art sitting judging me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law? And those standing by said, Do you revile the high priest of God? And Paul said, Brethren, I did not know that he is the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people. And Paul knowing that one part of them belongs to the Sadducees, and another to the Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of the Pharisees: concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am judged. And he speaking this, there was a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees indeed say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there was a great clamor: and certain ones of the scribes on the part of the Pharisees, rising up, continued to strive, saying, We find nothing evil in this man: but has a spirit or an angel spoken to him? And the dissension being great, the chiliarch fearing lest Paul may be torn to pieces by them, commanded the army, having gone down, to take him from their midst, and lead him into the castle.