TWO PRIESTS

ANNAS.
Annas had been High Priest (AD 6-15) and was still head of the ruling High Priestly family. These were Sadducees whose policy was to submit to Roman rule but manipulate it to get their own way wherever possible. They held office by Roman appointment as puppet rulers, but sometimes it was not clear who was pulling the strings. Annas was father-in-law to Caiaphas and the real power was shared between them.

The family of Annas profited from the trade in the temple courtyard; so Jesus made enemies of them by driving the traders out. The first time He did this (John 2) made Him a public figure. The crowd supported Him, and the fact that He could so defy the authorities shows how popular and influential He was.

There were at least two such confrontations. The traders were only there around passover time and it seems that Jesus did not go to Jerusalem for the two passovers in the middle of His public life in Galilee. So He threw out the traders once right at the beginning and again three years later just before He was crucified.

Annas, therefore, must be regarded as a serious enemy of Jesus throughout, but he was a cautious enemy. He was good at not offending people, be they Romans, the populace or the followers of the new influential Rabbi from Galilee. Annas was a clever compromiser and manipulator who knew when to back down in order to stay in power.

It was Caiaphas who planned Jesus’ death, but with full support from Annas.

CAIAPHAS.
PHARISEE
What can we do? If we leave this man alone everyone will believe Him and the consequences of that could be very serious. Think of the Romans’ reaction. Our position here would be in danger and the whole nation threatened.

CAIAPHAS
This discussion is getting nowhere. Can’t anyone see what’s obvious. It is expedient that one man die for the sake of the people rather than have the whole nation destroyed.

NARRATOR
That was Caiaphas the High Priest speaking and he didn’t know how right he was. Unwittingly he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation - and the world.

From that day it became official policy to kill Jesus. He could no longer walk publicly in Judea; so he settled briefly in a town called Ephraim on the border of the desert with His disciples.

* * *

Joseph Caiaphas was High Priest from AD 18 to AD 37. Like Annas his father-in-law he was a Sadduccee and his policy was compromise with Rome and manipulation to get his way. On the whole he was successful with Pontius Pilate who was procurator from AD 26 to AD 37. Caiaphas was removed from office soon after Pilate was recalled.

There had been desultory attempts to kill Jesus before, by a lynch mob in Nazareth and another in Jerusalem. Pharisees and Herodians had plotted His death and the Chief Priests had once ordered His arrest, unsuccessfully.

It was on Caiaphas’ advice, however, that the intention to have Him executed became official, and it was Caiaphas who carried the policy through despite great difficulty and frustration.

Judas arrived late that Passover night with the news that he could not go back to Jesus and that he could take them to Him, now or never. Nothing could have been more upsetting for all Caiaphas’ plans. In a matter of a few hours he had to get together a band of security guards, call an emergency meeting of the Supreme Court (illegal at night and probably packed with his own supporters) and force through a conviction. Then in the morning he had to get it ratified by the Governor Pilate and hope that Jesus was actually in Roman hands before the general population realised what was happening.

The whole operation was conducted against a background of fear of the public. The common people were on Jesus’ side. The whole intensely dramatic series of events is best presented in drama form as in the following extract.

* * *

Relieved, Caiaphas thought it was all over. Pilate would never refuse to ratify a sentence of the Jewish Supreme Court on a Jewish citizen. What happened belongs to the story of Pilate.

To complete the story of Caiaphas, however, we last see him some eight to ten weeks later once more presiding over a court, but this time a legal one in daytime and not packed with his own supporters.

Before him stand apostles who have been preaching and healing in the temple courtyard as Jesus did. Once more the crowds are on their side and Caiaphas fears a riot if he is too heavy-handed.

* * *

CAIAPHAS
We ordered you to stop teaching in this name, but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. You are trying to blame us for this man’s death.

PETER
We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers has raised Jesus from the dead. You killed Him but God has exalted Him to His own right hand as Ruler and Saviour.

* * *

And Caiaphas could do nothing to stop them.

He is not mentioned by name at the trial and martyrdom of Stephen. But he was there.

References, Caiaphas.
Named as High Priest Luke 3:2
Plan to kill Jesus Matthew 26:3-5 John 11:48-53
The trial Matthew 26:57-66 Mark 14:53-64 Luke 22:66-71 John 18:12-24
Peter & John Acts 4:1-22
The apostles Acts 5:17-41
Stephen Acts 6 and 7