Sanhedrin
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Matt. 5:22; 26:59; Mark 14:55; Luke 22:66; John 11:47; Acts 4:15 and elsewhere)—the supreme Jewish council at Jerusalem. The source gives it seventy-two members under the high priest’s presidency, chosen chiefly from Pharisees and Sadducees by vote or lot. The high priest, called its head or prince, summoned its meetings, and the source says that nothing was decided without him (John 11:47; Acts 5:21). According to Talmudic opinion it ordinarily met in a chamber adjoining the Temple, but in exceptional cases assembled in the high priest’s house (Matt. 26:3; John 18:24).