MK 11:27-28 "They arrived once again in Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the Temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the Law, and the elders came to him and asked him `What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you such right?'"
Comment: At the time of Jesus, there were various groups of Jewish leaders and teachers with whom Jesus came into conflict.
1. Pharisees
2. Sadducees
3. The Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin was the "Council," a group of Jewish leaders in Jerusalem to whom the Romans gave some authority, especially authority over the Temple. The Romans basically made a deal with the Jews: "Look, we don't know about your temple and your religion. We'll let you run your own religious affairs: but remember, there can be no funny business." This limited authority that the Romans gave the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem included the Jews having their own "police force," the "Temple guards." Not all Jews were happy with this arrangement. Many, especially the Jews in Galilee, thought that their religious leaders in Jerusalem were in "cahoots" with the Romans and had "sold out."