What was the combined assembly of Jewish priests and scribes called and what was this assembly’s function?
En bref
The assembly of Jewish priests and scribes, called the Sanhedrin, held judicial and executive power in Jerusalem to make judgments on both political and theological issues (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 27:41).
Herod inquires regarding regarding the birth of the Messiah by calling upon the Jewish high council, the assembly of priests and scribes, called the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin functioned as the judicial and executive power in Jerusalem during the Graeco-Roman period. This council consisted of 71 members representing three groups: the priests (as governing body), the elders (as heads of families), and the scribes (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 27:41) and adjudicated both political and theological issues.1
4 Il assembla tous les principaux sacrificateurs et les scribes du peuple, et il s'informa auprès d'eux du lieu où le Christ devait naître.