Reference: Sanhedrin
American
Or BETHDIN, house of judgment, was a council of seventy senators among the Jews, usually with the addition of the high priest as president, who determined the most important affairs of the nation. It is first mentioned by Josephus in connection with the reign of John Hyrcanus II, B. C. 69, and is supposed to have originated after the second temple was built, during the cessation of the prophetic office, and in imitation of Moses' council of seventy elders, Nu 11:16-24. The room, in which they met, according to the rabbins, was a rotunda, half of which was built without the temple, that is, without the inner court of Israel, and half within, the latter part being that in which the judges sat. The Nasi, or president, who was generally the high-priest, sat on a throne at the end of the hall; the vice-president, or chief counselor, called Ab-bethdin, at his right hand; and the sub-deputy, or Hakam, at his left; the other senators being ranged in order on each side. Most of the members of this council were priests or Levites, though men in private stations of life were not excluded. See SADDUCEES.
The authority of the Sanhedrin was very extensive. It decided causes brought before it by appeal from inferior courts; and even the king, the high priest, and the prophets, were under its jurisdiction. The general affairs of the nation were also brought before this assembly, particularly whatever was in any way connected with religion or worship, Mr 14:55; 15:1; Ac 4:7; 5:41; 6:12. Jews in foreign cities appear to have been amenable to this court in matters of religion, Ac 9:2. The right of judging in capital cases belonged to it, until this was taken away by the Romans a few years before the time of Christ, Joh 18:31. The Sanhedrin was probably the "council" referred to by our Lord, Mt 5:22. There appears also to have been and inferior tribunal of seven members, in every town, for the adjudication of less important matters. Probably it is this tribunal that is called "the judgment" in Mt 5:22.
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. read more. And, unto the people, shalt thou say: Hallow yourselves by to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh, for ye have wept in the ears of Yahweh saying - Who will grant us to eat flesh? for it was well with us in Egypt, - so then Yahweh will give you flesh and ye shall eat. Not one day, shall ye eat nor two days, - nor five days nor ten days, nor twenty days: for a month of days until it cometh forth out of your nostrils, so shall it become to you a loathsome thing, - because ye have refused Yahweh who is in your midst, and have wept before him, saying, Wherefore now came we forth out of Egypt? And Moses said, Six hundred thousand footmen, are the people in whose midst am, I, yet thou hast said - Flesh, will I give unto them, a and they shall eat for a month of days. Shall the flocks and herds, be slaughtered for them, that it may suffice for them? Shall all the fishes of the sea, be gathered together unto them that it may suffice for them? Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Shall the hand of Yahweh, fail? Now, shalt thou see whether my word come to pass unto thee or not. And Moses went forth and spake unto the people the words of Yahweh, - and gathered together seventy men from among the elders of the people, and caused them to stand round about the tent.
But, I, say unto you, that, every one who is angry with his brother, shall be, liable, to judgment, - and, whosoever shall say to his brother, Worthless one!, shall be, liable, to the high council; and, whosoever shall say, Rebel!, shall be, liable, unto the fiery gehenna.
But, I, say unto you, that, every one who is angry with his brother, shall be, liable, to judgment, - and, whosoever shall say to his brother, Worthless one!, shall be, liable, to the high council; and, whosoever shall say, Rebel!, shall be, liable, unto the fiery gehenna.
Now, the High-priest, and all the High-council, were seeking, against Jesus, testimony, with the intent to put him to death, - and were not finding any;
And, straightway, early, when they had made, a council, the High-priest, with the Elders, and Scribes, and all the High-council, binding Jesus, led him away, and delivered him up unto Pilate.
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! -
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?
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.
Fausets
Sanhedrin formed from the Greek sunedrion. Sanhedrin is the Chaldee form. (See COUNCIL.)
Hastings
The Gr. word synedrion (English Version council) became so familiar to the Jews that they adopted it in the form of Sanhedrin, which occurs very frequently both in Josephus and in the Talmud.
1. According to Rabbinical tradition, the Sanhedrin was originally created by Moses in obedience to Divine command (cf. Nu 11:16), and it is taught that this assembly existed, and exercised judicial functions, throughout the whole period of Biblical history right up to Talmudic times. That this cannot have been the case is seen already in the fact that, according to Biblical authority itself, king Jehoshaphat is mentioned as having instituted the supreme court at Jerusalem (2Ch 19:8); but that this court cannot have been identical with the Sanhedrin of later times is clear from the fact that, whereas the latter had governing powers as well as judicial functions, the former was a court of justice and nothing else. It is possible that the 'elders' mentioned in the Book of Ezra (Ezr 5:5,9; 6:7,14; 10:8) and 'rulers' in the Book of Nehemiah (18/type/emb'>Ne 2:18; 4:8,18; 5:7; 7:5) constituted a body which to some extent corresponded to the Sanhedrin properly so called. But seeing that the Sanhedrin is often referred to as a Gerousia (i.e. an aristocratic, as distinct from a democratic, body), and that as such it is not mentioned before the time of Antiochus the Great (b.c. 223
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.
And, even in Jerusalem, did Jehoshaphat station some of the Levites and the priests, and of the ancestral chiefs of Israel, to pronounce the just sentence of Yahweh, and to settle disputes, - when they returned to Jerusalem.
Nevertheless, the eye of their God, was upon the elders of Judah, and they did not forbid them, until the matter, unto Darius, should come, - and, then, answer be returned by letter, concerning this.
Then asked we of these elders, thus, we said to them, - Who hath issued to you an edict, this house, to build, and, this wall, to complete?
let alone the work of this house of God, - the pasha of Judah, and the elders of Judah, this house of God, shall build upon its place;
And, the elders of the Jews, went on building and prospering, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah son of Iddo, - they both built and finished, owing to the edict of the God of Israel, and owing to the edict of Cyrus and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
and, whosoever should not come within three days, according to the counsel of the rulers and the elders, all his goods should be devoted, - and, himself, be separated from the convocation of them of the Exile.
Then told I them, of the hand of my God, that, it, had been good upon me, as also of the words of the king, which he had spoken unto me, - so they said, We will arise and build! and they strengthened their hands right well.
and they conspired, all of them together, to come, to fight against Jerusalem, - and to cause it harm;
Even they who were building, every man, had his sword girded upon his loins, and so was building, - and, he that sounded the horn, was by my side.
So my heart took counsel unto me and I contended with the nobles and with the deputies, and said to them, A loan on interest - every man to his brother, are ye making, - So I appointed over them a great assembly;
So then my God put it into my heart, and I gathered together the nobles and the deputies and the people, to register their genealogy, - then found I a register roll, of them who came up at the first, and found written therein: -
But, I, say unto you, that, every one who is angry with his brother, shall be, liable, to judgment, - and, whosoever shall say to his brother, Worthless one!, shall be, liable, to the high council; and, whosoever shall say, Rebel!, shall be, liable, unto the fiery gehenna.
And, while, yet, he was speaking, lo! Judas, one of the twelve, came, and, with him, a large multitude, with swords and clubs, from the High-priests and Elders of the people.
And, they who secured Jesus, led him away unto Caiaphas the High-priest, where the Scribes and the Elders gathered themselves together.
And, they who secured Jesus, led him away unto Caiaphas the High-priest, where the Scribes and the Elders gathered themselves together.
Now, the High-priests and all the High-council, were seeking false-witness against Jesus, that they might, put him to death;
And Jesus, answering, said unto them - As against a robber, came ye forth, with swords and clubs, to arrest me?
And they led away Jesus unto the High-priest; and all the High-priests and the Elders and the Scribes gather together.
And, straightway, early, when they had made, a council, the High-priest, with the Elders, and Scribes, and all the High-council, binding Jesus, led him away, and delivered him up unto Pilate.
Joseph of Arimathaea, a noble counsellor, who, also himself, was awaiting the kingdom of God, came; and, venturing, went in unto Pilate, and claimed the body of Jesus.
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!
The High-priests and Pharisees, therefore, brought together a high-council, and were saying - What are we to do, in that, this man, doeth, many signs?
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! -
The Jews answered him - We, have, a law, and, according to the law, he ought to die, because, Son of God, himself, he made.
And they thrust on them their hands, and put them in custody for the morrow, for it was evening, already.
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;
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; - read more. 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,
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 ! read more. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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, read more. 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.
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, crying out with a loud voice, they held their ears, and rushed with one accord upon him; And, thrusting him forth outside the city, proceeded to stone him. And, the witnesses, laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
asked from him letters for Damascus, unto the synagogues; to the end that, if he should find, any, who were of The Way, whether men or women, he might bring them, bound, unto Jerusalem.
as, even the High-priest, beareth me witness, and all the Eldership, - from whom, letters also, accepting to the brethren, unto Damascus, was I journeying, to bring them who were there bound unto Jerusalem, that they might be punished.
as, even the High-priest, beareth me witness, and all the Eldership, - from whom, letters also, accepting to the brethren, unto Damascus, was I journeying, to bring them who were there bound unto Jerusalem, that they might be punished.
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.
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.
Now, therefore, do, ye, with the High-council, make it appear unto the captain, that he should bring him down unto you, as though about to ascertain more exactly the things that concern him; and, we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
And he said - The Jews, have agreed to request thee, that, to-morrow, thou wouldst bring, Paul, down into the High-council, as though about to ascertain something, more exact, concerning him.
And, being minded to find out the cause for which they were accusing him, I took him down into their High-council,
Smith
San'hedrin
(from the Greek sunedrion, "a council-chamber" commonly but in correctly Sanhedrim), the supreme council of the Jewish people in the time of Christ and earlier.
1. The origin of this assembly is traced in the Mishna to the seventy elders whom Moses was directed,
to associate with him in the government of the Israelites; but this tribunal was probably temporary, and did not continue to exist after the Israelites had entered Palestine. In the lack of definite historical information as to the establishment of the Sanhedrin, it can only be said in general that the Greek etymology of the name seems to point to a period subsequent to the Macedonian supremacy in Palestine. From the few incidental notices in the New Testament, we gather that it consisted of chief priests, or the heads of the twenty-four classes into which the priests were divided, elders, men of age and experience, and scribes, lawyers, or those learned in the Jewish law.
Mt 26:57,59; Mr 15:1; Lu 22:66; Ac 5:21
2. The number of members is usually given as 71. The president of this body was styled nasi, and was chosen in account of his eminence in worth and wisdom. Often, if not generally, this pre-eminence was accorded to the high priest. The vice-president, called in the Talmud "father of the house of judgment," sat at the right hand of the president. Some writers speak of a second vice-president, but this is not sufficiently confirmed. While in session the Sanhedrin sat in the form of half-circle.
3. The place in which the sessions of the Sanhedrin were ordinarily held was, according to the Talmad, a hall called Gazzith, supposed by Lightfoot to have been situated in the southeast corner of one of the courts near the temple building. In special exigencies, however, it seems to have met in the residence of the high priest.
Forty years before the destruction of Jerusalem, and consequently while the Saviour was teaching in Palestine, the sessions of the Sanhedrin were removed from the hall Gazzith to a somewhat greater distance from the temple building, although still on Mount Moriah. After several other changes, its seat was finally established at tiberias, where it became extinct A.D. 425. As a judicial body the Sanhedrin constituted a supreme court, to which belonged in the first instance the trial of false prophets, of the high priest and other priests, and also of a tribe fallen into idolatry. As an administrative council, it determined other important matters. Jesus was arraigned before this body as a false prophet,
Joh 11:47
and Peter, John, Stephen and Paul as teachers of error and deceivers of the people. From
it appears that the Sanhedrin exercised a degree of authority beyond the limits of Palestine. According to the Jerusalem Gemara the power of inflicting capital punishment was taken away from this tribunal forty years before the destruction of Jerusalem. With this agrees the answer of the Jews to Pilate.
Joh 19:31
The Talmud also mentions a lesser Sanhedrin of twenty-three members in every city in Palestine in which were not less than 120 householders.
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.
Then, were gathered together, the High-priests and the Elders of the people, into the court of the High-priest who was called Caiaphas;
And, they who secured Jesus, led him away unto Caiaphas the High-priest, where the Scribes and the Elders gathered themselves together.
Now, the High-priests and all the High-council, were seeking false-witness against Jesus, that they might, put him to death;
And, straightway, early, when they had made, a council, the High-priest, with the Elders, and Scribes, and all the High-council, binding Jesus, led him away, and delivered him up unto Pilate.
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!
The High-priests and Pharisees, therefore, brought together a high-council, and were saying - What are we to do, in that, this man, doeth, many signs?
The Jews, therefore, since it was, a preparation, that the bodies might not remain upon the cross during the Sabbath, - for that Sabbath day was, great, requested Pilate that their legs might be broken, and they be taken away.
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.