People & groups
Sanhedrin
The leading Jerusalem council appearing in New Testament judicial and religious proceedings.
Also called · Council · Jewish council
What it means
The council included chief priests, elders, and scribes under the high priest’s leadership. Its exact makeup and authority varied with the political setting.
The Gospels connect it with proceedings against Jesus, while Acts records hearings involving Peter, John, Stephen, and Paul.
How it appears in the Bible
The Sanhedrin exercised significant internal authority while Judea remained under the wider power of Rome.