ANN031

The Chief Priests

The article explores the role of the Chief Priests under Roman occupation, focusing on Annas and Caiaphas, and the entanglements between religious and political power. The appointment of High Priests was influenced by Rome, which made sure of their allegiance.

10 min Chief Priest Sanhedrin Anna Caiaphas Rome 4 verses 2 books

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Introduction

The Chief Priest, as the principal head of the Jewish court, the , is a leading figure in society. He is the second most important person in the country, right behind the Roman procurator. His influence is considerable, since he controls the Temple and all religious activities. In this society where the religious and the political are closely intertwined, the Chief Priest holds a central position.

Roman authority quickly grasped the importance of this office. Thus, over the years of occupation, the successive representatives took the initiative of appointing to this office men who, if not in their pay, were at least favorable to Rome and easy to manipulate.

However, one point surprises us. In the third Gospel, we find allusions to two Chief Priests who supposedly served together at the time of the Messiah Jesus. How can we explain this statement by Luke?

I. The text of the Gospel of Luke

Indeed, according to the information reported by Luke, two figures in particular hold this coveted position: Annas and Caiaphas.

Look at the NEG version of Luke 3.1-2.

This expression is unusual. In general, succession took place after the death of the previous holder, and there was only one Chief Priest in office. He presided over the , mainly for religious matters.

The descendants of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi, fulfilled the duties of priest. They were responsible for managing the various sacrifices and the operation of the Tabernacle and later of the Temple. They appointed a leader, who bore the title of Chief Priest or High Priest. This office, generally held by the head of the most influential family, was usually passed down from father to son.

This coveted office could stir up many ambitions. The democratic principles we know today did not exist at that time, and the people had no say. The appointment remained in the hands of the religious authorities.

II. The period of Roman rule

Under the Roman occupation, the various prefects in post chose the High Priest, the highest Jewish official, according to his allegiance to Rome. Consequently, it was possible for several High Priests to still be alive and to keep the title as an honorary one.

For example, Annas was appointed in AD 6 or 7, succeeding Joazar, who had been appointed by the people. After Ishmael, Eleazar and Simon, Joseph Caiaphas was appointed by the procurator of Judea, Valerius Gratus, in AD 18. He held this office for nearly 20 years before being removed in AD 36.

It is therefore not surprising that there were several High Priests alive at the same time. However, only one of them actually exercised power at any given moment.

III. Caiaphas

Caiaphas was invested with the title of High Priest in AD 18 by the prefect of Judea, Valerius Gratus, and held this office for about two decades. Previously, Valerius Gratus had appointed and then removed four High Priests, including Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Annas served from AD 6 to AD 15, and was followed by Ishmael, Eleazar and Simon, each holding the office for about three years.

It was clearly established that the High Priest had to submit to the authority of the Roman prefect. Caiaphas, having understood these conditions well, maintained good relations with Pontius Pilate. Although the granted a certain autonomy to the peoples they had conquered, they nevertheless remained the undisputed masters. A former High Priest kept his title as an honorary one. These High Priests belonged to well-known, wealthy and influential families, and lived in the upper districts of Jerusalem, close to the temple. The poorest inhabitants lived in the lower part of the city. This explains the ease and speed with which Jesus, the Messiah, could be brought before Annas, then before Caiaphas after his arrest.

According to John 11.47-50, the chief priests and the gathered the and voiced their concern at the many miraculous signs performed by Jesus. They feared that if Jesus kept acting this way, everyone would believe in him and the would come and destroy their city and their nation. Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, then advised them that it was better for one man to die for the people than to see the whole nation perish.

The position of Caiaphas, and by extension that of a large majority of the , was clear. It was inconceivable to call their institutions into question, as Jesus was doing. This Man therefore had to disappear. Was their system, which allowed them to live, to grow rich, to hold positions of power and to dwell in magnificent houses on the heights of Jerusalem, to be called into question by one Man? It is obvious that Jesus' fate was sealed.

Caiaphas and Pontius Pilate ruled the country for about ten years, that is, the whole period of Pontius Pilate's term. Both were removed from office at about the same time. Pontius Pilate was appointed prefect of Judea in AD 26, during the reign of the emperor Tiberius. He held this office for about ten to eleven years. He was removed and sent back to Rome at the end of AD 36 or the beginning of AD 37, for an unknown reason, by the proconsul of Syria Lucius Vitellius, to explain himself before the emperor. After his arrival in Rome, history loses track of him.

Joseph, called Caiaphas, was appointed high priest of the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 18 by the Roman prefect of Judea Valerius Gratus. He held this office for nearly 20 years. Caiaphas was removed from office at the end of AD 36 or in April AD 37 at the latest by the legate of Syria Lucius Vitellius. After his removal, history loses track of him.

It is therefore reasonable to conclude that these two men knew each other well and that, despite their differences, they easily managed to find compromises.

IV. Annas

Ananus, known as Annas in the Bible, was removed by Valerius Gratus in AD 15 after nine years of service. The father-in-law of Caiaphas, he came from one of the most influential families of his time and was known for his wealth. Historical sources describe him as a proud, bold and cruel man. For half a century he kept his power over the , since five of his sons in turn became High Priests.

It is written in:

John 18.13 (King James Version) :
And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

And it is mentioned in:

John 18.24 (King James Version) :
Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

The influence of Annas is evident, since it was to him that the Jews first brought Jesus, the Messiah, after his arrest. It was then he who sent Jesus to his son-in-law, the High Priest in office. It should be noted that he had Jesus bound, thus asserting his authority and position. The message to his son-in-law, the legal head, was clear: this intruder had to be got rid of as quickly as possible. Caiaphas no longer had the power of life and death in sentencing. By appealing to the Roman prefect, it became clear that the only sentence envisaged was death. This message was also clear to Pontius Pilate, who was surprised that this religious problem was not dealt with directly by the .

Conclusion

It is not unusual for several High Priests to be alive at the same time. Luke and John, well informed about the political situation of their time, made no mistake on this point.

Annas, despite his removal, kept considerable influence for nearly fifty years, thanks to the appointment of his sons and his son-in-law to this key office: Chief Priest.

Although Roman authority granted a certain autonomy to conquered peoples, it nevertheless exercised control over all political and religious decisions that had an impact on society. By directly appointing and removing officials, Rome constantly reminded everyone who held power in the region.