Was the Apostle Paul ....

[wpe3bql]

.... ever an actual member of the Sanhedrin?

I've heard this claim in relationship to his marital status, but cannot find any specific Bible reference to validate such claim.

Advocates state that ALL members of this Jewish religious "supreme court" were required to be married. Paul (Saul) was a member of said body. Therefore Paul had been at some point in his life married to one woman.

Comments?

 

[Scarlett O.]

This commentary should be helpful. If Saul (Paul) were a member of the council, it is not in the Bible.

http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVanswers/2008/07-30.html

 

[revmwc]

.... ever an actual member of the Sanhedrin?

I've heard this claim in relationship to his marital status, but cannot find any specific Bible reference to validate such claim.

Advocates state that ALL members of this Jewish religious "supreme court" were required to be married. Paul (Saul) was a member of said body. Therefore Paul had been at some point in his life married to one woman.

Comments?

We know one thing for sure about Saul/Paul,
Philippians 3:
4 "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."

He was a Pharisee.

We also know this in regards to Stephen, Acts 6:12 "And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,"

Stephen was brought before the council, and we see Acts 7:57-58
57 "Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul."

Is this saying Saul/Paul was part of the council or just in the crowd?

 

[JonC]

.... ever an actual member of the Sanhedrin?

I've heard this claim in relationship to his marital status, but cannot find any specific Bible reference to validate such claim.

Advocates state that ALL members of this Jewish religious "supreme court" were required to be married. Paul (Saul) was a member of said body. Therefore Paul had been at some point in his life married to one woman.

Comments?

I doubt he was ever a member of the Sanhedrin. I would expect this to be noted in Paul's epistles (i.e., in his defense of his Judaism, a Jew among Jews, a Pharisee, ... he even mentions he was a student of Gamaliel).

Anyway, there is absolutely no evidence or reason to believe he was.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Regardless his standing with the Sanhedrin, he seemed to have quite the influence with the Jews...

••Stephen' s clothes were laid at Saul's feet[Acts 7:58]
••Was consenting of Stephen's murder[Acts 8:1]

 

[JonC]

Regardless his standing with the Sanhedrin, he seemed to have quite the influence with the Jews...

••Stephen' s clothes were laid at Saul's feet[Acts 7:58]
••Was consenting of Stephen's murder[Acts 8:1]

Perhaps, but I don't know that either statement demonstrates his influence with the Jews.

 

[Greektim]

.... ever an actual member of the Sanhedrin?

I've heard this claim in relationship to his marital status, but cannot find any specific Bible reference to validate such claim.

Advocates state that ALL members of this Jewish religious "supreme court" were required to be married. Paul (Saul) was a member of said body. Therefore Paul had been at some point in his life married to one woman.

Comments?

Didn't know this was a view... Paul in the Sanhedrin???

Since he was a Pharisee, it would be very unlikely since the Sanhedrin was influenced by the Sadducees and priests, most on the Sanhedrin came from the Sadducees and priests. Pharisees didn't like either.

 

[preachinjesus]

Didn't know this was a view... Paul in the Sanhedrin???

I've heard it before, often from folks who haven't done the requisite research on Second Temple Judaistic religious leadership.

Since he was a Pharisee, it would be very unlikely since the Sanhedrin was influenced by the Sadducees and priests, most on the Sanhedrin came from the Sadducees and priests. Pharisees didn't like either.

This is exactly what I was going to say. :thumbsup: