The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

VERS. II.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

He desired letters of him [the High Priest] to Damascus.

THESE letters were written from the whole Sanhedrin, k 1.1 the head of which was Gamaliel, Paul's Master, yet they are attributed to the High-Priest, he being of a more worthy degree and order, than the President of the Council; that in Acts XXIII. 4. hath a peculiar Emphasis, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, God's High-Priest, and hints to us the opinion that Nation had of the High-Priest, namely, that he was God's Officer; whereas the President of the Council was only an officer of the People, and cho∣sen by men. The charge of the High-Priest was to take care about holy things: the charge of the President was to take care about the Traditions: for he was the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the keeper and repository of Traditions.

But the words we are upon do occasion a more knotty and difficult question, viz. whe∣ther the decrees of the Sanhedrin were of authority amongst the Jews in Countries abroad? As to Damascus there is the less scruple, because Syria in very many things was lookt upon to be of the same rank and condition with the land of Israel. But what shall we think of more remote Countries? For instance, Egypt or Babylon, where the greatest number of Jews above all other Countries in the World did reside?

I. There was no Sanhedrin of Seventy men, either in Egypt or Babylon, or indeed any where else, but that at Jerusalem. There were very famous Academies in Babylon, viz. that of Nehardea, that of Sorah, and that of Pombeditha. But a Sanhedrin no where. There was a very famous Cathedral Church at Alexandria, wherein were seventy pompous stalls, but it was but a Church not a Sanhedrin l 1.2.

II. In what veneration the Jerusalem Sanhedrin was held every where amongst all sorts of Jews, may be collected from this, that the rule and determination concerning interca∣lating the year, concerning the beginning of the year, and the appointed time of the feasts, &c. came from it, as also that was esteemed the keeper and repository of the oral Law.

III. The judgment of life and death in the matter of Heresie and heterodoxy belonged only to the Jerusalem Sanhedrin: and it is some such thing that is now before us. The Christians were to be sent from the Synagogues bound to Jerusalem, that if they would not deny their faith, they might be condemned to dye. The Synagogues by their three

men, might scourge them, but they could not pass sentence of death: And these goodly men conceived there was no other way to extirpate Christianity but by the death of Christians.

IV. Whether therefore, these were mandatory letters, or only exhortatory which St. Paul desired; the Fathers of the Sanhedrin knew the Synagogues were heated with so great an indignation against Christianity that they would most readily undertake, what was desired. Where, by the way, we may make this observation, That the power of Life and Death was not yet taken out of the hands of the Sanhedrin. I have elsewhere given you a copy of a Letter from the Sanhedrin to those of Babylon, and also to those of Alexandria m 1.3.

Notes

• k 1.1

  Vid. Acts XXII 5.
• l 1.2

  Hieros. Suc∣cah. ••c. 55. 1.
• m 1.3

  Vid. Hor. Heb. ••d. Matth. II. 14