Sanhedrin comes from the Greek term sunedrion
(literally, "sitting together") meaning council. The
Sanhedrin
is both a Jewish judicial and administrative body. The Sanhedrin
was composed of local elites--including members of the high-priestly
family,
scribes (religious experts), and lay elders. It probably operated
under some sort of Roman oversight, at least with respect to its
taxing,
law enforcement, and other administrative functions.
According to gospel accounts, Jesus was brought before the Jerusalem Sanhedrin, presided over by high priest Joseph Caiaphas. Around 200 C.E., Sanhedrin becomes a technical term for a rabbinic court. A tractate in the Mishnah prescribes procedures the Sanhedrin is to use. The excerpts below, taken from the Mishnah Tractate, may shed light on the procedures used in the case of Jesus. One caution, however: the Mishnah was not compiled until 200, and it is therefore possible that some of the procedures and restrictions described in the Mishnah Tractate were not in force in the time of Jesus. The gospel of John indicates that the Sanhedrin turned Jesus over to Pilate because it lacked the power to impose death: "Pilate said to them, 'Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.' The Jews replied, 'We are not permitted to put anyone to death.'" The Mishnah, however, clearly shows that the Sanhedrin did have the power to impose death for certain crimes--at least sometime before 200 C.E. In particular, Mishnah Sanhedrin 6.1 to 6.4 specify the procedures for stoning. There is no evidence to suggest that the power did not exist in 30 C.E. On the contrary, there is evidence that the Romans preferred to leave as much power as possible to control religious crimes in the hands of Jewish authorities. Mark and Matthew indicate that the trial before the Sanhedrin occurred at night and a capital trial at night was illegal. Mishnah Sanhedrin 4.1 confirms the illegality of a capital trial at night, assuming that the law stated in the Mishnah existed in 30 C.E. Mark indicates that the charge against Jesus was blasphemy: "You have heard the blasphemy (Mark 14:64)." Under Mishnah Tractate 7.5, blasphemy consists only of uttering the name of God, so there is reason to question whether in fact that was the charge against Jesus. If it is assumed to be the charge, however, Mishhah Tractate 7.4 makes clear that execution by stoning was an available option for such a crime. Information for this page is drawn largely from The Trial of Jesus by Alan Watson (1995). |
[Under the Mishnah Tractate, Sanhedrin] Mishnah Sanhedrin 4.1 |
Mishnah Sanhedrin 5.1-4 |
Mishnah Sanhedrin 5.5 |
Mishnah Sanhedrin 6.1-4 [Other forms of capital punishment under Jewish law included
burning, decapitation, and strangulation, each of which has its own
set of crimes meriting such punishment.] |
Mishnah 7.4 |
|