The Sanhedrin – What was it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The word "Sanhedrin" is a Greek term meaning "assembly". The Great Sanhedrin was a court of spiritual leaders in ancient Israel that included seventy men and the high priest. During the New Testament period, these men met in the Jewish temple every day except for the Sabbath and holy days. The Great Sanhedrin has its roots in the Old Testament. In Numbers 11:16, the Lord instructed Moses to gather seventy elders to share the burden of leadership among the people. This is likely the basis of the Sanhedrin. During Jesus' time, the Sanhedrin held significant power but couldn't execute people under Roman law, leading them to take Jesus to Pilate for sentencing. The Sanhedrin persecuted the early church, as seen in Acts, but its influence waned after the destruction of the Jewish Temple in AD 70, shifting religious practice to local synagogues.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In Numbers 11:16, the Lord commanded Moses to assemble seventy elders to serve as leaders among the people. This was likely connected to the advice Moses had received earlier from his father-in-law Jethro in Exodus 18. There Jethro recommended that Moses delegate leadership to others so he would not wear himself and the people out.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• A group called the Great Sanhedrin formed later, possibly under the leadership of Ezra upon the return of worship in Jerusalem following seventy years of exile. Both a spiritual and legal body, the Sanhedrin was the authority in religious matters in Jerusalem, limiting the influence of other nations that ruled over Israel, especially the Roman Empire that would later take power in the region.
• During the time of Jesus, the Sanhedrin held illegal trials that resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus, although they could not actually sentence a person to death under Roman law. This is why the Sanhedrin took Jesus to Pilate following their time with Him in trial (Mark 15:1). The Sanhedrin held an informal examination of Jesus before Annas, the former high priest who apparently still held some power (John 18:12–14, 19–24), followed by a formal session before the high priest Caiaphas and the entire Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–68).
• The Sanhedrin also persecuted the early church. Following the healing of the man at the temple gate in Acts 3, Peter and John stood trial before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1–17). At the conclusion, the Sanhedrin "called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18).
• The last mention of the Sanhedrin in the New Testament shows them arresting the apostles: “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.’" (Acts 5:27—28).
• Before his conversion, Paul was a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians and sought letters from the high priest to arrest them, as indicated in Acts 9:1-2. After his conversion, he stood trial before the Sanhedrin, where he defended his ministry and the resurrection of Jesus, further escalating tensions between himself and the council (Acts 22:30-31).
• Following the destruction of the Jewish Temple in AD 70, the influence of the Sanhedrin suffered greatly. Religious practice shifted from a central focus in the temple in Jerusalem to small gatherings that shifted power to local synagogues in which local Jews worshiped.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Sanhedrin shows us the importance of just and righteous leadership. The Sanhedrin, though initially established to represent God's justice among His people, often fell short, particularly during the time of Jesus when their trials were unjust and led to His crucifixion. Leaders are accountable to God for their actions and must strive to embody His principles of justice, righteousness, and fairness (Micah 6:8; John 7:24). The Sanhedrin's misuse of power serves as a reminder that true justice is rooted in God's character, and those in positions of authority should lead with integrity, humility, and a commitment to God's standards, knowing they ultimately answer to Him as the supreme judge.

UNDERSTAND

• The Sanhedrin, rooted in Numbers 11:16, was a court of seventy elders and the high priest in ancient Israel.
• In the New Testament, the Sanhedrin held significant authority, conducted trials, and persecuted early Christians, but did not have authority under Roman law to perform executions.
• The Sanhedrin's influence declined after the AD 70 temple destruction, shifting religious power to local synagogues.

REFLECT

• How do you ensure that your actions and decisions align with God's principles of justice, righteousness, and fairness in your personal and professional life?
• Reflect on the Sanhedrin's misuse of power. How can you remain humble and accountable in any leadership roles you hold?
• What should your response be to unfair accusations, even when it comes from religious authority? How can you respond with love and the truth?

ENGAGE

• What lessons can we learn from the Sanhedrin about the importance of integrity and accountability in leadership?
• How can your community uphold God's standards of justice and fairness in its collective decisions and actions?
• In what ways can you and those in your community support and encourage each other to remain faithful and just leaders, especially when faced with challenges similar to those encountered by the early church?