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.
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And Jehovah said to Moses, Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and the officers over them. And bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation so that they may stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take of the spirit on you, and will put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you so that you do not bear it yourself alone.
And when day came, the body of elders of the people, and the chief priests and the scribes, came together. And they led Him to the sanhedrin, saying,
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 put anyone to death
And as they spoke to the people, the priests, and the temple commander, and the Sadducees came on them, being grieved that they taught the people, even to announce through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. read more. And they laid hands on them and put them under guard until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the Word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it happened on the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes, gathered to Jerusalem, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name have you done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we are examined today on a good work for an infirm man, by what this one has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in this name does this man stand before you whole. This is the Stone which you builders have counted worthless, and He has become the Head of the Corner. And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved. But seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were unlearned and uneducated men, they marveled. And they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. And when they had commanded them to go aside out of the sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is plain to all those dwelling in Jerusalem. And we cannot deny it. But, so that it spread no further among the people, let us strictly threaten them, that they speak to no man in this name from now on. And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right before God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way as to how they might punish them, because of the people. For all glorified God for that which was done. For the man on whom this miracle of healing occurred was more than forty years old. And being let go, they went to their own company and reported what the chief priests and elders had said to them.
And rising up, the high priest, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees) were filled with anger, And laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the public custody. read more. But the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night and brought them out, and said, Go! Stand and speak all the words of this Life to the people in the temple. And hearing, they went into the temple about dawn, and taught. But the high priest came, and those with him. And they called the sanhedrin together, and all the elderhood of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But having come near, the officers did not find them in the prison. And returning, reported, saying, We indeed found the prison shut with all safety, and the keepers standing outside in front of the doors. But having opened it, we found no one inside. And when the high priest and the temple commander and the chief priests heard these things, they were bewildered about them, what this might be. But one came, reporting to them, saying, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then the commander went with the officers and brought them, not with force, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And bringing them, they stood in the sanhedrin. And the high priest asked them, saying, Did we not strictly command you that you not teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood on us. And Peter and the apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed and hanged on a tree. This One God has exalted to be a Ruler and Savior to His right hand in order to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel. And we are His witnesses of these things. And so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him. But those hearing were cut to the heart, and they took counsel to kill them. Then there stood up one in the sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the Law honored among all the people. And he commanded the apostles to be put outside a little space. And he said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be somebody; a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves to him; who was slain. And all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered and brought to nothing. After this one, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the Registration, and drew away considerable people after him. Yet that one perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered. And now I say to you, Withdraw from these men and let them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will come to nothing. But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they obeyed him. And calling the apostles, beating them, they commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then indeed they departed from the presence of the sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be shamed for His name.
And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes. And coming on, they seized him and brought him to the sanhedrin. And they set up false witnesses, who said, This man does not cease speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law. read more. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us. And looking intently at him. all those sitting in the sanhedrin saw his face as if it were the face of an angel.
On the next day, he desiring to know with certainty why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their sanhedrin to appear. And bringing Paul down, he set him among them.
And looking earnestly on the sanhedrin, Paul said, Men, brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. read more. Then Paul said to him, God shall strike you, whitened wall! For do you sit judging me according to the Law, and against law command me to be stricken? And they who stood by him said, Do you revile God's high priest? Then Paul said, I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest; for it is written, "You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people." But when Paul saw that the one part were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the sanhedrin, Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I am being judged because of the hope and resurrection of the dead. And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry. And the scribes who were on the Pharisees' side arose and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God. And dissension arising, the chiliarch, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and to take him from among them by force, and to bring him into the fortress.