During the illegal trial of Jesus of Nazareth, the chief priests, the elders, and the council struggled to build a case against Him, even resorting to false testimony, yet they could not make any charges hold. In desperation, they demanded Jesus declare if He was the Christ, the Son of God, and His response—affirming the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven—infuriated them, as it drew on Messianic prophecies and implied they were His enemies. The elders, along with the chief priests and council, reacted with outrage to His claim, which referenced Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7, understanding His assertion of arriving before the Ancient of Days to receive dominion, glory, and a Kingdom. Following His crucifixion and resurrection, the elders and the religious leadership could not ignore the supernatural events that unfolded, including reports of His empty tomb and the powerful occurrences at Pentecost, which they undoubtedly heard about. As Peter and John performed miracles and were brought before the elders and rulers, many of whom were likely present at Jesus' trial, the leaders witnessed the effects of divine power through a healed man, growing in comprehension of what Jesus had foretold, though they refused to accept it and could only threaten the apostles to remain silent. Repeated arrests of the apostles, their miraculous release, and further testimonies before the council, including Peter's declaration that God exalted Jesus to His right hand as Prince and Savior, intensified the elders' fury, yet they could not deny the reality pressing on their minds. Stephen's testimony before the council, proclaiming a vision of the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, echoed Jesus' earlier words and became more than the elders could bear, leading them to silence him through death. Despite their resistance, the elders and the Jewish leadership faced the undeniable comprehension of Jesus' exaltation, as foretold, though they persisted in rejecting it, unable to stop the divine message that continued to spread.

In the context of the judicial processes surrounding the arrest and trial of Jesus Christ, the Elders of Israel played a significant role within the Sanhedrin, the highest court of Judaism. The Sanhedrin, comprising 71 members, included a chamber of 23 elders alongside chambers of priests and scribes, representing the democratic element of Jewish life. This body held the highest authority in religious and national matters in Israel, subject only to Roman oversight at the time of Jesus. The origins of the Sanhedrin are traditionally traced back to the wilderness under Moses, where God instructed him to gather 70 of Israel's elders to perform judicial functions, making a total of 71 with Moses included. These elders, as part of the Sanhedrin, were integral to the court authorized to sit in capital cases, such as the trial of Jesus. During the trial, the elders, along with the chief priests and scribes, were involved in the sudden and late-hour arrest of Jesus, prompted by Judas's betrayal. Their unpreparedness for a proper trial under Jewish law was evident, as they struggled to find witnesses in the middle of the night in Jerusalem. Jewish law prohibited judges from acting as witnesses, and the elders, among others, likely hoped Jesus might incriminate Himself, a hope that was quickly dashed by His adherence to legal rights. The involvement of the elders in the Sanhedrin also highlighted the undercurrent of formal adherence to law, despite numerous illegalities in the trial process. Their role in seeking false evidence against Jesus, as part of the broader Sanhedrin, underscored the tension between legal formality and the intent to convict, revealing the challenges within the judicial system they upheld.

In the establishment of governance among the people of Israel, God delegated authority to seventy elders, as seen in the book of Exodus. These elders, alongside judges, were appointed to assist Moses, who was overburdened with the responsibility of leading the nation. God took of the Spirit that was on Moses and bestowed it upon these seventy elders, equipping them for their roles in religious matters. Moses also educated both the elders and the judges, ensuring they understood their responsibilities in maintaining order and direction among the people. This delegation marked the beginning of a formal hierarchy between God and Israel, reflecting a structured approach to governance within the nation.