Reference: Caiaphas
American
High priest of the Jews, A. D. 27 to 36. He was a Sadducee, and a bitter enemy of Christ. At his palace the priests, etc., met after the resurrection of Lazarus, to plot the death of the Savior, lest all the people should believe on him. On one of these occasions, Joh 11:47-54, he counseled the death of Christ for the political salvation of the nation; and his words were, unconsciously to him, an inspired prediction of the salvation of a lost world. These plots against Christ, Mt 26:1-5; Mr 14:1; Lu 22:2, led to his seizure, and he was brought first before Annas, formerly high priest, who sent him to Caiaphas his son-in-law. See ANNAS. Caiaphas examined Christ before the assembling of the Sanhedrin, after which the trial went on, and Christ was condemned, mocked, and transferred to Pilate for sentence and execution, Mt 26:57-68; Mr 14:53-72; Lu 22:54-71; Joh 18:13-27. Not content with procuring the death of the Savior, Caiaphas and his friends violently persecuted his followers, Ac 4:1-6; 5:17,33. But a few years after the ascension of Christ, and soon after the degradation of Pilate, Caiaphas also was deposed from office by the Roman proconsul Vitellius. Like Balaam of the Old Testament, he is a melancholy instance of light resisted, privilege, station, and opportunity abused, and prophetic words concerning Christ joined with a life of infidelity and crime and a fearful death.
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When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified." read more. Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be a riot among the people."
And those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the end. read more. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'" And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. But I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard his blasphemy. What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death." Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists; and others slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck you?"
It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth, and kill him.
And they led Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes were assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. read more. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands.'" Yet even then their testimony did not agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." The high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" And they all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him, and to beat him, and to say to him, "Prophesy!" And the guards received him with slaps in the face. Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway. And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them." But again he denied it. And after a little while again those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them; for you are a Gallilean." But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak." And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to kill him, for they feared the people.
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. Peter followed at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. read more. And a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, looked at him, and said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." And a little later some one else saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" Then after about an hour had passed, another insisted, saying, "Certainly this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. Now the men who were holding Jesus mocked him and beat him. They blindfolded him and asked him, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?" And they spoke many other things against him, blaspheming. As soon as it was day, the council of the elders of the people came together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away to their council chamber, saying, "If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe. And if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" He said to them, "You said what I am." And they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips."
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." read more. But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that he would gather together into one the children of God who were scattered abroad. So from that day on they plotted to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim; and there he stayed with his disciples.
And they led him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. read more. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. As this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together, and I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. They know what I said." And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter stood warming himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again denied it; and at once a rooster crowed.
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. read more. And they seized them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand. On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and they were filled with jealousy.
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to kill them.
Easton
the Jewish high priest (A.D. 27-36) at the beginning of our Lord's public ministry, in the reign of Tiberius (Lu 3:2), and also at the time of his condemnation and crucifixion (Mt 26:3,57; Joh 11:49; 18:13-14). He held this office during the whole of Pilate's administration. His wife was the daughter of Annas, who had formerly been high priest, and was probably the vicar or deputy (Heb. sagan) of Caiaphas. He was of the sect of the Sadducees (Ac 5:17), and was a member of the council when he gave his opinion that Jesus should be put to death "for the people, and that the whole nation perish not" (Joh 11:50). In these words he unconsciously uttered a prophecy. "Like Saul, he was a prophet in spite of himself." Caiaphas had no power to inflict the punishment of death, and therefore Jesus was sent to Pilate, the Roman governor, that he might duly pronounce the sentence against him (Mt 27:2; Joh 18:28). At a later period his hostility to the gospel is still manifest (Ac 4:6). (See Annas.)
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Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
And those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled.
And they bound him, and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor.
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish."
And they led him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they did not enter the Praetorium themselves, so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and they were filled with jealousy.
Hastings
Joseph Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Annas (Joh 18:13), was high priest between a.d. 18 and 36; and thus 'the memorable year' of our Lord's trial fell in the course of his pontificate (Joh 11:51; 18:13). He was, like all the priestly order, a Sadducee; and he was a man of masterful temper, with his full share of the insolence which was a Sadduc
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And those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the end. read more. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'" And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. But I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard his blasphemy. What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death." Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists; and others slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck you?"
And they led Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes were assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. read more. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands.'" Yet even then their testimony did not agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." The high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" And they all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him, and to beat him, and to say to him, "Prophesy!" And the guards received him with slaps in the face.
As soon as it was day, the council of the elders of the people came together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away to their council chamber, saying, "If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe. read more. And if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" He said to them, "You said what I am." And they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips."
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
And they led him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
And they led him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
Watsons
CAIAPHAS, high priest of the Jews, succeeded Simon, son of Camith; and after possessing this dignity nine years, from A.M. 4029 to 4038, he was succeeded by Jonathan, son of Ananas, or Annas. Caiaphas was high priest, A.M. 4037, which was the year of Jesus Christ's death. He married a daughter of Annas, who also is called high priest in the Gospel, because he had long enjoyed that dignity. When the priests deliberated on the seizure and death of Jesus Christ, Caiaphas declared, that there was no room for debate on that matter, "because it was expedient that one man should die for the people, that the whole nation should not perish," Joh 11:49-50. This sentiment was a prophecy, which God suffered to proceed from the mouth of the high priest on this occasion, importing, that the death of Jesus would be for the salvation of the world. When Judas had betrayed Jesus, he was first taken before Annas, who sent him to his son- in-law, Caiaphas, who possibly lived in the same house, Joh 18:24. The priests and doctors of the law there assembled to judge our Saviour, and to condemn him. The depositions of certain false witnesses being insufficient to justify a sentence of death against him, and Jesus continuing silent, Caiaphas, as high priest, said to him, "I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God!" To this adjuration, so solemnly made by the superior judge, Jesus answered, "Thou hast said; nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." On hearing these words, Caiaphas rent his clothes, saying, "What farther need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. What think ye?" They answered, "He is worthy of death." And as the power of life and death was not at this time in their hands, but was reserved by the Romans, they conducted him to Pilate, that he might confirm their sentence, and order his execution.
Two years after this, Vitellus, governor of Syria, coming to Jerusalem at the passover, was received very magnificently by the people. As an acknowledgment for this honour, he restored the custody of the high priest's ornaments, to the priests, he remitted certain duties raised on the fruits of the earth, and deposed the high priest Caiaphas. From this it appears that Caiaphas had fallen under popular odium, for his deposition was to gratify the people.
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But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish."