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 as soon as it was day, the elders of the people, and chief-priests, and scribes, assembled together, and ordered Him up into their council:
Then said Pilate to them, Take Him, and judge Him according to your law. But the Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to put any man 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 vexed that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. read more. And they laid hands on them, and put them into custody till the next day: for it was now evening. But many of them who heard the word, believed: and the number of the men was about five thousand. And on the morrow their rulers, and elders, and scribes were gathered together at Jerusalem: and with them 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 them, By what power, or in what name have ye done this? Then Peter filled with the holy Spirit said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are this day examined about the benefit done to the impotent man, by what means he is cured, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, but whom God hath raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone that was set at nought by you builders, which is become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we can be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were plain and illiterate men, they were amazed; and they knew them again that they had been with Jesus: but seeing the man that was cured standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. Therefore they ordered them to withdraw from the council, and conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do with these men? for that indeed an evident miracle hath been wrought by them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it may spread no farther among the people, let us severely charge them to speak no more to any man in this name. So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, and said, Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God, judge ye: for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So they threatened them more severely, and let them go; not finding how to punish them, because of the people: for they all glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miraculous cure was wrought. Being dismissed they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
Then the high priest rose up, and all that were with him, (being of the sect of the sadducees,) and were filled with rage: and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison. read more. But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison by night, and having brought them out said, "Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." And hearing this, they went early in the morning into the temple and taught the people. But the high priest being come, and they that were with him, to the council-chamber, they called together the Sanhedrim, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent orders to the prison that they should be brought before them. But when the officers came they found them not in the prison: so they returned, and told them, saying, the prison we found shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we opened them, we found no body within. Now when the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt concerning them, what this would come to; when there came one and told them, saying, behold, the men whom ye put in prison, are in the temple teaching the people. Then the captain went with the officers and brought them, but not with violence; for they were afraid of the people least they should be stoned: and when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we strictly charge you not to teach in this name? and behold ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and would bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter, and the other apostles, answered, and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers hath raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand as a prince and saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins: and we are his witnesses of what we declare; and so is the holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey Him. And when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to put them to death. But a certain pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, held in much esteem by all the people, stood up in the council, and ordered the apostles to be taken out a little while; and then he said unto them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what ye are about to do, as to these men. For some time ago one Theudas arose, pretending to be some extraordinary person, to whom was joined a number of men, about four hundred: who was slain, and all that followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him arose Judas the Galilean, at the time of the registring, and drew much people after him: but he also perished, and all that followed him were dispersed. And therefore as to the present affair I advise you to refrain from these men and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nothing; but if it be of God, ye cannot defeat it, least ye be found fighting even against God. So they took his advice, and having called for the apostles and scourged them, they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer disgrace for his name.
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, and forced him along with them, and brought him to the council: and they set up false witnesses; who said, This man is continually 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 change the rites which Moses delivered to us. (And all that were sitting in the council, looking stedfastly at him, saw his face like the face of an angel.)
And on the morrow, desiring to know for certain what he was accused of by the Jews, he loosed him from his bonds, and ordered the chief priests and all their council to attend; and he brought down Paul, and set him before them:
and Paul looking earnestly at the sanhedrim, said, "Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God even to this day:" but the high priest Ananias ordered those that stood next him, to smite him on the mouth. read more. Then said Paul to him, "God will smite thee, thou whited wall: dost thou sit to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be smitten?" But they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high-priest? And Paul said, I was not aware, brethren, that it was the high-priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. But Paul, knowing that the one part were sadducees, and the other pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, "Brethren, I am a pharisee, the son of a pharisee: for the hope of a resurrection of the dead I am now prosecuted." Upon his saying this, there rose a contention between the pharisees and the sadducees; and the people were divided. For the sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the pharisees acknowledge both. So there was a great clamor: and the scribes that were of the party of the pharisees rose up and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. But as there arose much contention, the tribune fearing least Paul should be torn in pieces by them, ordered a party of soldiers to go down, and take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring him into the castle.
