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 when it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together, and brought him before their council, saying,
Pilate therefore said to them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him, It is not lawful for us to put any one to death.
And while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being indignant that they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. read more. And they laid hands upon them, and put them in prison until the next day; for it was now evening. Many however of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men became five thousand. And it came to pass on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes, and Annas the highpriest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the highpriest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, did ye do this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel! If we are this day examined in respect to a good deed done to a cripple, by what means he hath been restored, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead,by him doth this man stand here before you sound. This is the stone which was set at nought by you the builders, which is become a cornerstone. And there is salvation in no other; for there is not another name under heaven, that hath been given among men, by which we must be saved. And when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and common men, they wondered; and they recognized them as having been with Jesus. And seeing the man that had been cured standing with them, they could say nothing in reply. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a remarkable sign hath been wrought by them is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us strictly forbid them with threats to speak any longer in this name to any one. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach, in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken to you rather than to God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard. So, having further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people; because all were glorifying God for that which had been done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this sign of the healing had been wrought. And being released they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
But the highpriest and all that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, rose up and were filled with indignation, and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison. read more. But an angel of the Lord in the night opened the prisondoors, and brought them forth and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And hearing this, they went into the temple at daybreak and taught. But the highpriest and they that were with him came and called together the council, and all the elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But the officers that came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and brought word, saying, The prison we found shut in all security and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we opened them, we found no one within. And when the priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were at a loss concerning them, to what this would come. But one came and brought them word, Lo! the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence, that they might not be stoned; for they feared the people. And having brought them, they set them before the council. And the highpriest questioned them, saying, We strictly commanded you not to teach in this name, and lo! ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and mean to bring this mans blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew by hanging him on a cross; him hath God exalted by his right hand, as a Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit which God hath given to those who obey him. But when they heard this, they were filled with rage, and were resolving to kill them. But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, in high esteem with all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while, and said to them [of the council], Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as to what ye are about to do in respect to these men. For before these days arose Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and came to nought. After this man arose Judas the Galilaean, in the days of the registering, and drew people away after him; he also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this design or this work be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found also fighting against God. And they were persuaded by him; and having called the apostles, they beat them, and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. They therefore went away from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame in behalf of that name;
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place, and the Law. read more. For we have heard him say, This Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses delivered to us. And all that sat in the council, looking steadily upon him, saw his face like the face of an angel.
On the morrow, wishing to have certain knowledge why he was accused by the Jews, he released him, and ordered the chief priests and all the council to assemble; and bringing Paul down, he set him before them.
And Paul looking earnestly upon the council, said: Brethren! I have ordered my life in all good conscience before God to this day. And the highpriest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to smite him on the mouth. read more. Then Paul said to him, God will smite thee, thou whited wall! Art thou then sitting to judge me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Dost thou revile Gods highpriest? Then said Paul, I knew not, brethren, that he was highpriest; for it is written, "Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people." But Paul, perceiving one part to be Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried aloud in the council, Brethren! I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am now tried. 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, and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees affirm both. And there arose a great clamor; and scribes of the party of the Pharisees arose, and contended, saying, We find nothing amiss in this man; but if a spirit hath spoken to him or an angel And a great dissension arising, the chief captain, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, ordered the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.