Judaean Judicial Courts under Roman Rule

In the New Testament era, two major sources of power shaped the judicial system:

1. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish court led by the chief priest and the powerful Sadducee party;

2. The Roman Empire, which had a highly structured system of governance and judicial practice.

The Sanhedrin held a prominent role in the Gospels and the early part of Acts. However, as the church began to take the gospel into Gentile territory, the Roman court system became more prominent.