8:1 Does consenting to Stephen's death here prove Paul (Saul) was a member of the Sanhedrin?
8:1 Does consenting to Stephen's death here prove Paul (Saul) was a member of the Sanhedrin?
No! Scriptures do not teach that Paul (Saul) was a member of the Sanhedrin, but simply that he was taught the Jewish law by Gamaliel (CP 22:1-3). Gamaliel was a renowned teacher of the law and a high-ranking member of the Sanhedrin (CP 5:34).
Paul was a superior pupil who easily surpassed those of his own age in his knowledge of the law (CP Ga 1:14). Paul never claimed to be a member of the Sanhedrin, only that he was a zealous Pharisee, even when arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (CP Ac 23:1-6; Php 3:3-6).
As a zealous Pharisee Paul was given official authority by the chief priests to persecute Christians (CP Ac 7:58; 8:3; 9:1-2; 22:4-5; 26:10; 1Cor 15:9; Ga 1:13). Paul voted for, or consented to Christians being put to death, but that does not prove that he was a member of the Sanhedrin
(see also comments on Ac 22:3-5; 1Cor 7:7-9, and author's study Paul the Apostle - a Chosen Vessel unto God in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2)).