The Sanhedrin: Religious Rulers
Way back in Exodus chapter eighteen, back at the beginning of things, back at the beginning of the nation of Israel, Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, came to him with some good advice. He said,
"Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace." Exod. 18:19-23 italics mine
Evidently Moses took this matter before God in prayer and God actually agreed with Jethro's good advice, but changed it a little. For, at a later time God said,
"Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone." Numbers 11:16-17
So Moses did as he had been told, and that was the beginning of the Great Sanhedrin. According to Jewish tradition, that council of seventy men lasted from then on until the destruction of the second temple (Herod's temple), in 70 A.D. The council of 70 became known as the "Great Sanhedrin." The Great Sanhedrin was in place to decide the important criminal cases and make important decisions concerning the Law of Moses. For much of Israel's history the Great Sanhedrin was made up of a council of 70 men, led by the ruling High Priest, thus making a court of 71.
At the time of Christ, according to the Babylonian Talmud (tractate Sanhedrin), there were Lesser Sanhedrins of 23 Judges in every important city, but there was only one Great Sanhedrin of 71 Judges in Jerusalem, acting as the Supreme Court, taking appeals from the Lesser Sanhedrins. Normally the term "Sanhedrin" means the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.
The Great Sanhedrin is mentioned many times in the New Testament, but never by that name. In the New Testament the members of the Sanhedrin are usually called "the rulers of the Jews," "elders of the people," or simply "rulers." (see Matt. 26:3, John 7:12, John 7:26, John 7:48, Acts 3:17, Acts 4:8, and Acts 13:27) They met in a council chamber known as the Hall of Hewn Stones, on the east side of the temple grounds.
Most Christians know, or think they know, that the Sanhedrin was the supreme council of the Jews that condemned Jesus to death. But that is not exactly true. The Sanhedrin could not legally do that. They did not have legal authority to condemn anyone to death. Here's the rest of the story.
When the Romans conquered Palestine (Israel), in 67 AD, they divided the land into six provinces. By 37 AD, Herod the Great had become the client king (ruling under the authority of the Roman Emperor), ruling over all the of the provinces of Palestine except Decapolis. (see map) Herod the Great died in 4 BC without naming an heir. So the kingdom was divided among three of his sons and a nephew. The province of Judea was given to Archelaus. However, Archelaus was so cruel and inept that even the Romans despised him. He was removed from the throne and banished into exile in the year 6 or 7 AD. The Romans appointed Coponius to be the "Procurator" (military governor), of Judea in his place.
That meant that the province of Judea was no longer ruled by a Jewish king. (By Jewish reckoning Archelaus was a Jew since his mother was a Jew.) That meant the sceptre had departed from Judah because the right of capital punishment (the right to pass the death sentence), had been taken from Israel and given to the Romans. (see John 18:31) Remember, Coponius was a Roman "Procurator" not a Jewish king. All the nations that were conquered by the Romans lost the right to impose the death sentence. The Roman historian Tacitus said, "The Romans reserved to themselves the right of the sword, and neglected all else." Flavious Josephus also said, "Judea now became a province, and Coponius, a Roman of the equestrian (horse) order, was sent out as procurator with full authority including administration of capital punishment." ("Josephus, The Essential Writings" page 260 Paul L Meir) The Jews had always believed that the death penalty was the lynchpin of the law. That's why the Babylonian Talmud says...
When the members of the Sanhedrin found themselves deprived of their right over life and death, a general consternation took hold of them; they covered their heads and their bodies with sackcloth, exclaiming, "Woe unto us, for the scepter has departed from Judah and the Messiah has not yet come." (Talmud, Bab., Sanhedrin, Chapter 4, fol. 37, recto.)
They were quoting from the prophesy of Jacob... The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from beneath his feet until Shiloh comes. And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Genesis 49:10
Jesus was about twelve years old at that time. Remember that Archelaus was removed from being the king in the year 6 or 7 AD! That same year Jesus came to the temple and stood on the steps talking with the teachers. Some of those "teachers" were probably from the Sanhedrin! (see Luke 2:46)
And so it happened that Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophecy in the book of Genesis...
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes. Genesis 49:10 italics mine
Personally, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Jesus was standing on the steps of the temple on the very same day that Archelaus was removed from office! All of this gives new meaning to Jesus' question to His parents, "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?" Luke 2:49
The truth is that many of the rulers of the Jews eventually believed in Jesus! The Bible says so...
Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42-43
Being afraid that the Pharisees might put you out of the synagogue is one thing, but condemning a man, whom you believe in, to death is another! Those who believed in Jesus would not have done that! The court that convened in Caiphas' house on the eve of the Passover in 29 or 30 AD could not have included any of Jesus' followers since the death penalty had to be unanimous. We are very sure that Nicodemus, who was undoubtedly a member of the Sanhedrin, was not there. It was a kangaroo court!
note: For more on the illegal trial of Jesus see "The Illegal Trial of Jesus" by Earle L Wingo. There are also a number of other good books on this subject.
After the kangaroo court had met illegally at night, in the High Priest's house (not in the Hall of Hewn Stones, during daylight hours, as legally required), Jesus was duly handed over to the Roman Procurator (Pontius Pilate had replaced Coponius), for sentencing. Pilate tried to fake innocence, but he is the one who passed sentence. We can only guess at his motive. He knew Jesus was innocent. So why did he do it? There is a possible answer. The Roman Emperor, Tiberius, believed himself to be God. Anyone else making that claim would be a traitor and a threat. Pilate may simply have been afraid of Tiberius Caesar. The Bible makes it clear...
For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Acts 4:27 italics mine
God is the One who allowed Jesus to be crucified so that your sins would be forgiven. As the Bible says...
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6
It was for our sins He died.
note: The apostle Peter excused the Sanhedrin saying, "Yet now brethren, I know that through ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers." Acts 3:17
note: For more information on this subject please see the Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin tractate 14. You will be surprised.
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