Sadducees

<<religious leaders>>

There were several groups of Jewish religious leaders – the two most prominent were the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Although both groups disliked each other they jointly opposed Jesus.  The Sadducees were descendants of priests, and they only accepted the writings of Moses (Gen-Deut) and did not believe in life after death (Mk 12:18). They were strongly represented in the Jewish High Court (Sanhedrin) that ruled on Jewish affairs, under the overall eye of the occupying Roman authorities.

See also: Pharisees, scribes.