Apparently an informal meeting of the Sanhedrin is meant and not the official Sanhedrin since it is called “a” Sanhedrin and not “the” Sanhedrin and because Caiaphas is called “one of them” in verse 49 and would normally be called “the president” if it were the official Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin consisted of the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the people. There were 70 in all, voted in for life. They were either of the Pharisees or the Sadducees, the latter of which were a wealthy, aristocratic political party that collaborated with the Romans in exchange for retaining their wealth, comfort, and political power. All of the priests were Sadducees. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were not at all political. Their sole interest was in living every detail of the Law to its fullest. It is interesting to note that upon coming to power, Herod the Great had ordered the deaths of the entire Sanhedrin and replaced them with men loyal to him. They and the replacements they had voted in, were who made up the Council at the time of Jesus. It was the ruling judicial body of the Jewish nation, operating much as our Supreme Court in legislative and religious matters, but also giving orders in matters that the procurator allowed, which were ones he did not keep for his own use.

The chief priests seem to have taken the initiative and did all of the talking. It is interesting to note that from this time on the Pharisees are not mentioned often and the chief priests take over the role of being the opponents of Jesus. In all four gospels the Pharisees are the main opponents of Jesus and yet in all four they are rarely mentioned in relation to arrest, trial, and crucifixtion.

“What . . .” = They were not plotting a course of action, but wondering aloud how effective their efforts had been, especially in contrast to the miracle working of Jesus. Note that they acknowledged that Jesus was doing miracles. They had already made up their minds to oppose Jesus and all He was teaching and saying, so no amount of evidence was going to convince them differently. Since this was the case, they found the miracles as reason for increased opposition, not for trusting in Christ. Their hearts were hard and their minds were unable to be convinced.