Final answer:
The high priest was the leader of the Jewish ruling body, the Sanhedrin, in the first century CE, amidst a society with diverse sects such as Sadducees and Pharisees.
Step-by-step explanation:
The high priest served as the leader of the Jewish ruling body known as the Sanhedrin during the first century CE. This person was considered one of the priests who functioned as full-time religious leaders and played a significant role in the high-level administration within the religious bureaucracy. The Jewish society at that time was characterized by a division among several sects with different beliefs and practices.
The Sadducees, a powerful priestly group, taught that while all Jews should follow the 10 Commandments, only the Temple priests were required to follow the additional 613 laws given by Moses. In contrast, the Pharisees believed that all Jews were bound by all Mosaic laws, emphasizing the coming of a messiah and a day of judgment. Furthermore, there were also the Essenes, who practised asceticism and mysticism, and the Zealots, who encouraged armed rebellion against the Romans.