The Sanhedrin was a high tribunal or court composed of seventy-three men, made up of priests, elders, and doctors of the law, Pharisaical hypocrites, the seed of the serpent, blinded to God's purposes.

That body was the highest court of Israel and it was the duty of this court to protect the innocent as well as to punish the guilty.

They beheld Jesus doing good and the people flocking to him.
[221]"Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council [a court], and said, What do we?
for this man doeth many miracles.

If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.