religious authority

The Sanhedrin was the highest religious, judicial, and legislative authority of Second Temple Judaism (2nd century BC – AD 70). Made up of 71 members and sitting in Jerusalem, it interpreted the Torah, settled major disputes, and oversaw the Hebrew calendar. Mentioned in the Gospels and described by rabbinic literature, it disappears after AD 70, but its model continues to inspire Jewish organization and legal thought.

Level: Intermediate Level: Intermediate