Member of the Council
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Luke 23:50)—a member of the Jewish council or Sanhedrin. Joseph of Arimathea is described as a good and righteous council member who had not agreed with the council’s decision and action against Jesus. He awaited the kingdom of God, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body, and placed it in a new tomb (Luke 23:50-53). His example shows that the Gospel accounts distinguish individual responsibility and should not be turned into indiscriminate condemnation of every member of the council or of the Jewish people.