Sanhedrin
Jewish supreme court
The Sanhedrin was the supreme Jewish council and tribunal in ancient Judea, combining religious, legal, and political authority.
It consisted of seventy-one elders, scribes, and priests who interpreted religious law and adjudicated major cases.
The term now refers broadly to any authoritative Jewish judicial assembly.
In Christian tradition, the Sanhedrin is remembered as the body that tried Jesus.
Second Temple legal interpreters
- SadduceesPriestly Jewish faction
- CaiaphasHigh priest during crucifixion
- Second TempleRebuilt Jerusalem sanctuary
- JerusalemTriply sacred ancient capital
Judea · Herod · Pontius Pilate · Essenes · Roman Empire · Galilee · Aramaic · Hebrew
Judicial decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- witnessesThose who observe events
- judgesLegal proceeding overseers
sentencing · capital punishment · stoning · deliberation · acquittal · conviction · cross-examination · majority vote
Rabbinic law compilation
- MishnahCodified Jewish oral law
- HalakhaFormal Jewish legal system
- rabbisOrdained Jewish spiritual leaders
- sagesProfoundly learned people
yeshiva · Midrash · oral law · semicha · ordination · patriarch
Advisory deliberative group
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
- eldersSenior community members
- seventySeven times ten
- legislativeConcerning the creation of laws
governance · supreme court · religious authority · theocracy · deliberative · session · chamber
Pharisees
Second Temple legal interpreters
- SadduceesPriestly Jewish faction
- CaiaphasHigh priest during crucifixion
- Second TempleRebuilt Jerusalem sanctuary
Jerusalem · Judea · Herod · Pontius Pilate · Essenes · Roman Empire · Galilee · Aramaic · Hebrew · seventy-one
tribunal
Judicial decision-making body
judges · sentencing · capital punishment · stoning · deliberation · acquittal · conviction · cross-examination · majority vote · appellate
Talmud
Rabbinic law compilation
- MishnahCodified Jewish oral law
- HalakhaFormal Jewish legal system
- rabbisOrdained Jewish spiritual leaders
sages · yeshiva · Midrash · oral law · semicha · ordination · patriarch
council
Advisory deliberative group
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
- eldersSenior community members
- seventySeven times ten
legislative · governance · supreme court · religious authority · theocracy · deliberative · session · chamber
Sanhedrinmonarchy
Rule by crowned sovereign
kingship · autocracy · tyranny · dictatorship · absolute rule