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I. The NAME συνέδριον. Sanhedrin is more accurate than Sanhedrim, though this is more frequently used, and means a sitting together, an assembly.

II. SIGNIFICATION: the supreme, theocratico-hierarchical court of the Jews, resident at Jerusalem.

III. COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION. It consisted of seventy-one members forming three classes — chief priests, elders, scribes. At that time it was composed of Pharisaic and Sadducean elements. Its president was ordinarily the High Priest who was assisted by a vice-president.

IV. SESSIONS.

1. Extraordinary: in urgent cases at the house of the High Priest.

2. Ordinary: held daily, with the exception of the Sabbath and feast days, of old in a session room adjoining the Temple, called Gazith, but from a period of forty years before the destruction of the Temple in places near the Temple mount.

V. MATTERS COMING UNDER THE COGNIZANCE OF THE COURT AS A FORUM. Matters concerning a whole tribe, a false prophet, the high priest, an arbitrary war, or blasphemy.

VI. PUNITARY POWER. Formerly infliction of capital punishment; stoning, burning, beheading, hanging, later, excommunication and recommendation for capital punishment.

VII. ADMINISTRATION. Connection with the minor courts; highest court of appeal from these; intercourse with them through surrogates and apparitors.

VIII. EXTENT OF AUTHORITY: legislation, administration, justice.

IX. HISTORY. According to the Talmudists, this court originated in the institution of Moses (Numbers 11:24). That probably was preclusive. So, too, the supreme court of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 19:8). Increased importance of this institution after the Exile. The γευουσία in the time of the Selucidae (2 Macc. 1:10); the first decided mention at the time of Antipater and Herod ("Jos. Antiq." 14:09, 4).

(J. P. Lanye, D. D.)

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KJV: Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

WEB: The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we doing? For this man does many signs.