This is based off a book by the lawyer Earle L. Wingo. The Sanhedrin was the court of the Jews. Its authority was supreme in all matters – civil, criminal, political, social and religious. It was led by the high priest and consisted of 70 members. Most of the members including the high priest were Sadducees (Acts 5:17 ¶ Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,), who did not believe in a resurrection. (Luke 20:27 ¶ Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,) The Sanhedrin was already prejudiced against Jesus having already desired to have planned his death because Jesus pointed out their hypocrisies and sins. They wanted to keep their power and control over the people. Many laws were broken in order to execute Jesus and the Jewish leaders allowed the mob to take over.
The charge brought against the defendant, before the court of the Sanhedrin, was
“blasphemy against Jehovah.”
The criminal indictment brought against the defendant before Pilate and Herod, was
“treason against the government of Rome.” Jesus said he was a King.
This trial took place in less than twelve hours. Jesus was taken at night and crucified at the third hour (9 am.). (Mark 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.) In one sense Jesus had six trials-3 Jewish (were religious) (all with guilty verdict) (Annas- gave the ok to arrest Jesus, Caiaphas- charge of Blasphemy against Jesus and death sentence, and the trial of the Sanhedrin-also death sentence)and three Roman (civil) (all innocent) (Pilate, Herod, Pilate)
Broken Law 1: The arrest of Jesus was illegal. Caiaphas, the high priest had already decided on his own to condemn Jesus to death to protect himself and the other chief priests and he thought the nation. (John 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.) (John 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.) Caiaphas said it was expedient that one man should die for the people. There was no warrant for his arrest. Even Saul (Paul) needed to get letters (authority and commission) from the high priest to go after Christians and arrest them. (Acts 9:1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.) (Acts 26:12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,) Jesus was never charged with any crime.
Broken Law 2: The Jewish law prohibited any part of legal proceedings by night.
“A capital offense must be tried during the day and suspended at night” (From the Mishna-A Jewish book on oral traditions and laws. They were carrying lanterns when they came to arrest Jesus. (John 18:3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.) Jesus was first taken to Annas’s house at night after his arrest. Annas had no authority as high priest as he had been deposed by the Romans and Caiaphas was the high priest. Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas. Both had tried Jesus alone which was against Jewish law. “Be not a sole judge, for there is no sole judge but One.” (Mishna)
“An accused man must never be subjected to private or secret examination, let in his perplexity, he furnish damaging testimony against himself.”
Broken Law 3: Annas had no jurisdiction. Annas was the father in law of Caiaphas (John 18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.). He was deposed by the Romans. It is likely that Caiaphas was then chosen by the Romans to be high priest, though God said the high priest was for life, (Exodus 29:9 And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest’s office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.) so it should have been Annas, who may have been recognized by the Jews as such. Caiaphas probably should not have had any authority, but did by Roman authority. Throughout the old testament we see how Aaron was high priest until his death and then his son until his death and his son and so on as God commanded.
Broken Law 4: Sanhedrin’s unlawful assembly. The Sanhedrin was not allowed by Jewish law to hold a death penalty case on the day before the Sabbath (Mark 15:42 ¶ And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,) or a feast such as the Passover, nor during the night. Jesus was crucified on the Passover. He is our Passover Lamb. (I Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:) The Jewish day starts at sunset. Also the whole Sanhedrin was not assembled, only the people that Caiaphas knew would back him up. Only 23 members of the Sanhedrin were needed for a quorum. (Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.) Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea, whose tomb Jesus was buried in, were not present for the trial of Jesus. (Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.) (Luke 23:50-51 ¶ And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.)
Broken Law 5: Changing the False Accusations against Jesus. Matthew 26:60-61 says “-At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. (Matthew 26:60-61 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.) This is not what Jesus said. Jesus said in John 2:19 Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.) These false witnesses were twisting Jesus’s words and trying to accuse him of destroying Herod’s temple, but John 2:21 shows Jesus was referring to the temple of his body. (John 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.) When the accusations of these false witnesses did not work (Mark 14:59 But neither so did their witness agree together.), Caiaphas changed tactics and the charge by asking Jesus if he “be the Christ, the Son of God” in Matthew 26:63. (Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.) Jesus responded in Matthew 26:64 “Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.) In Mark 14:62, Jesus admitted to being the Messiah or Christ. (Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.) The high priest then accused Jesus of blasphemy, another false charge since Jesus is God. According to the Talmud (the Jewish book of civil and ceremonial law, of which the Mishna is a part), one is only guilty of blasphemy if they say the whole divine name of God (Jehovah). Jesus said “I am” which is not the same name. He was sentenced to death, which was forbidden by the Romans for the Jews to impose a death sentence. Following the Sanhedrin’s ruling of death, the Jews then brought Jesus before Pilate so they could get authorization for the death penalty. The Jews changed the charge against Jesus again since the Romans did not care if someone claimed to be God as they had many gods and that was the Jews problem. The Jews accused Jesus of planning to overthrow Caesar and make himself King of the Jews (Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.). Jesus never said he was going to be King at this time. Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world. (John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.) (The Jews said they had no king but Caesar. (John 19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar.) Pilate found Jesus not guilty and sent him to Herod since Jesus was from his Jurisdiction of Galilee. Herod also found him not guilty and sent him back to Pilate who found Jesus not guilty again and said he washed his blood of Jesus (Matthew 27:24 ¶ When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.) after the Jews called for the release of Barabbas a robber, murderer and one guilty of sedition (insurrection against the government). (John 18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.) and [Luke 23:18-19 18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)] The Jews called for the release of a guilty man and the murder of an innocent man. (Matthew 27:20-22 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.)
Broken Law 6: Jesus was not allowed any witnesses. None of the apostles (John 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.) or any of his other disciples such as Lazarus or his sisters Mary and Martha, who could easily testify of his deity as could all those who he performed miracles on. Peter, James and John could testify that God the Father said Jesus was his Son at the transfiguration. (Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.) (Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.) The Sanhedrin knew full well that Jesus was more than a prophet by the miracles he did, but refused to admit it.
Broken Law 7: Jesus was convicted on his own statement. After Caiaphas accused Jesus of blasphemy, no witnesses from either side were called. Jesus was sentenced to death by his own statement. This was against Jewish law. Jewish law said “We have it as a fundamental principle of our jurisprudence that no one can bring an accusation against himself. Moreover a voluntary confession on his part is not admitted in evidence.”
Broken Law 8: Failed to have required two witnesses. Jewish law required at least two male witnesses who had observed the entire crime. No circumstantial or partial witness to crime was allowed. They did not even have one witness against Jesus.
Broken Law 9: Death trial cannot end in one day. It is estimated that the trials of Jesus (Jewish and Roman) lasted around seven hours from around 1-2 am to the break of dawn or at most 9 am when Jesus was crucified. That is all in one day. Normally the Sanhedrin would have gone home at night to pray that they make the right decision about the life of a person and return the next day.
Broken Law 10: Sanhedrin could not authorize the death penalty. The Romans had removed the authority of the Jews to execute people. This is why Jesus had to be brought before Pilate. (John 18:31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:)
Broken Law 11: Death sentence cannot be unanimous. (Mark 14:63-64 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.) They all found him guilty. This would not have happened if Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea had been present. There were no lawyers for the accused then and the judges were to act as such to prevent mob violence. This was not the case with Jesus. The Sanhedrin did the opposite and actually stirred up and incited the crowd to find Jesus guilty and to be crucified.
Broken law 12: Sanhedrin members were disqualified. The “judges could not be an enemy of the accused.” This was to prevent any bias and dishonesty. It is obvious that Jesus was despised. (John 18:14) Mark 14:1 says they would take him by craft and put him to death. (Mark 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.) They also got false witnesses against Jesus. (Mark 14:57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,) The judge could not serve if he was “related to the accuser.” Caiphas (the judge) was the son in law of Annas (the accuser). (John 18:13) Both found Jesus guilty and had conspired days earlier to kill Jesus. (John 11:57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.) and (John 12:10-11 ¶ But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.) History also says 5 of Annas’s sons had been high priests and were also present at the trial.
Broken Law 13: Jesus’s defense was ignored. The members of the Sanhedrin knew all of the Hebrew laws well. They were to “weigh the evidence in the sincerity of their conscience.” When they accused Jesus of blasphemy, they denied the evidence that Jesus was God and ignored their own laws on blasphemy and apparently had no conscience. It was not Jesus’s job to establish his own guilt, it was the job of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin had never charged Jesus with a crime before the start of the trial. It is also possible that the Sanhedrin held the trial in an illegal place. The Sanhedrin could only hold trials in the Hall of Hewn Stones.
Those responsible for the illegal trials of Jesus reaped the consequences they had sewn. They had committed the greatest crime in history by crucifying God. Judas Iscariot hanged himself. Annas was buried in an unmarked grave, Caiaphas lived with having killed God. Caesar had the coward Pilate executed after learning of the crucifixion of Jesus. Herod would live to regret his actions. The Sanhedrin was dissolved soon after the “trial” of Jesus in disgrace. The Pharisees and Sadducees no longer exist and the Roman soldiers were forgotten. All are now in hell.
As Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 (Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.) that what they did to him they meant as evil, but God meant it for good, Satan and those who crucified Jesus (especially the Jewish leaders) meant Jesus’ death on the cross for evil with Satan winning, but God meant it for good. For without the death of Jesus on the cross and the shedding of his blood, all of mankind would still be dead in their sins and along with the victorious resurrection we can have eternal life to those who believe in Jesus and Satan and his angels were defeated. (I Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.) (Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.)
There is one more trial of Jesus. All people including me and you have put Jesus on trial whether he is God in the flesh who shed his blood and died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day and is at the right hand of God. Do we find Jesus innocent of these charges that he is who he says he is or guilty. The verdict we make will determine whether we spend eternity in heaven or hell. Find Jesus innocent as he is innocent of all charges and choose life. Choose Jesus is who he says he is and choose heaven.
[Note that much of this was adapted from the book “The ILLEGAL Trial of Jesus” by Earle L. Wingo (a lawyer). This book is available at chick.com.]
