Relatives of Jesus

 

6-4 BC/BCE: This is the probable range of dates for the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, Judea (modern Beit Lahm, West Bank). Matthew 2:1. Some believe that the Simeon who blessed the infant Jesus (Luke 2:25-35) was Shimon ben Hillel, the nasi of the Sanhedrin and a son of Rabbi Hillel. Shimon was the father of Rabbi Gamaliel and, since the family was descended from King David, they were all distant relatives of Jesus.  Acts 5:34-39, 22:3.

Definition: Sanhedrin

In yesterday’s post on the Rich Young Ruler I said the it was possible that he was a member of the Sanhedrin.  The word is often translated as “council,” and when presented as “Sanhedrin” is a direct transliteration of the Aramaic word and the Greek word synedrion.  The word seems to have begun in Greek and then passed into Aramiac and, in Greek, means “together” and “seat,” so, “to sit together.” The Greek speaking Jews called it the gerousia, “the Assembly of the Ancients.”

The Sanhedrin was a council of judges who ruled in matters of a strictly Jewish nature.  The Romans held all real political power.

Jewish tradition says that the Sanhedrin began with Moses and his council of seventy elder (Numbers 11:16) but the first undisputed mention of the gerousia is in The Antiquities of the Jews, (XII, iii, 3) by Josephus, in his discussion of the reign of Antiochus the Great (223-187 B.C.).

Messianic Prophecies from the Bible: He Would Die Among the Wicked But Be Buried Among the Wealthy and Powerful

Old Testament Prophecy:

“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:9

New Testament Fulfillment:

Jesus was crucified and died between two thieves (Luke 23:32-43).  After Jesus’s death, a wealthy Israelite, Joseph of Arimathea (a secret believer and a member of the Sanhedrin; Matthew 27:57, Luke 23:50, Mark 15:43) asked Pontius Pilate for Jesus’ body (Mark 15:43-45).  The fact that Joseph was allowed to speak to Pilate attests to his social prominence.

Joseph and Nicodemus placed Jesus into Joseph’s tomb which Joseph had previously prepared for his own burial. (Matthew 27:59-60, Mark 15:46, Luke 23:53, John 19:38-42.)

Paul Defuses a Dangerous Situation

In a follow-up to yesterday's post, here is how Paul defused the highly dangerous (for him) situation which was developing within the Sanhedrin.  The members of the council were becoming increasingly agitated at him, so he changed the subject, applying the tactic of "misdirection."  He reminded them of one of their recurring arguments.  In effect, he "pushed their buttons," and set them off.

"Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”  At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.  Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”  

Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”

Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.”  When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.  (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)

 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”   The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

  The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (Acts 23:1-11)."

I Didn't Recognize the High Priest

"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people." (Acts 23:1-5) (Note: Here Paul paraphrases from Exodus 22:28)


"I didn't recognize him."  Of course Paul knew that Ananias was the High Priest!  In the next passage, Paul declares to the group that he is a Pharisee and a Pharisee would know the High Priest.  Paul was using the words in the same way we might today.  He was being sarcastic, telling Ananias that he did not recognize Ananias' authority.  He also was asking Ananias how he dared to judge Paul (Acts 23:3).  Paul knew exactly who he was, God's apostle, and he was not shy about exerting his own authority.