[ml/nj]

historically were not the Jews forbidden to execute capital punishment?

No. There's lots of room for capital punishment in the Torah. The Talmud makes capital punishment much more difficult, but it doesn't eliminate it entirely. My Rabbi teaches that a Sanhedrin that executed one man in 70 years was considered bloodthirsty, but that does imply that there were some executions going on. I don't think they were many crucifixions though. But we do have the Gospels though and we ought not to question the information they present.

ML/NJ

[RonHolzwarth]

re: " I don't think they were many crucifixions though."

Correct. Crucification is NOT a method of execution sanctioned in the Torah.

[mdmathis6]

The Bible says that Caiaphas also "prophetically"in the role of High Priest pronounced that "one man should die for the Nation", in his desire to justify the necessity of Christ's execution. I read that prophecy someplace in the old testament that Caiaphas was quoting recognizing that while the priest was acting cynically and coldly Machiavellian, he was indeed quoting God's will for His Son. It seems that God even orchestrates the evil of men for his own purposes!

[frgoff]

However, at the time of Christ, Israel was under Roman rule. Only Rome could execute. That's why the Jews who wanted Jesus dead had to present him before Pilate on a charge of sedition. Only after Pilate pronounced the penalty of crucifixion did the Jewish leaders call out that Christ was being killed because of blasphemy.