Here’s what we know about Sadducee theology: Both were Sadducees-and both played critical roles in the execution of Jesus. The leader of the Sanhedrin was a High Priest given king-like authority-and was almost always a Sadducee.įor instance, Annas and his son-in-law Caiaphas are two High Priests named in the New Testament (see Matthew 26:3 and Acts 4:6). The Sanhedrin was the governing body for both religious and legal issues of the Jews. In Jesus’ time, Sadducees controlled the two most important institutions of Jewish society: The Jerusalem Temple (known as Herod’s Temple) and the Sanhedrin. These were the Jewish aristocrats of their day, known as much for their wealth and corruption as for their religious devotion.Īlthough we can’t know for certain the origins of their name, a common belief is that it was derived from the name of prominent Old Testament High Priest, Zadok ( 2 Samuel 15:23-29 1 Kings 2:35). In first-century Israel, Sadducees were a religious faction that wielded societal power in nearly every aspect except military-and for that they had the backing of their Roman benefactors. These men hated Jesus and were the Jewish aristocrats of their day, known as much for their wealth and corruption as for their religious devotion. In first-century Israel, Sadducees were a religious faction that wielded societal power in nearly every aspect.

Who are the priests in the bible