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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And it happened that when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, "You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man will be handed over in order 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 named Caiaphas, and plotted in order that they could arrest Jesus by stealth and kill [him]. But they were saying, "Not during the feast, so that there will not be an uproar among the people."
Now those who had arrested Jesus led [him] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And he went inside [and] was sitting with the officers to see the outcome. read more. Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order that they could put him to death. And they did not find [it], [although] many false witnesses came forward. And finally two came forward [and] said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild [it] within three days.'" And the high priest stood up [and] said to him, "Do you reply nothing? What are these [people] testifying against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus said to him, "You have said [it]. But I tell you, from now [on] 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 robes, saying, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have just now heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they answered [and] said, "{He deserves death}!" Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists, and they slapped [him], saying, "Prophesy for us, [you] Christ! Who is it who hit you?"
Now after two days it was the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how, [after] arresting him by stealth, they could kill [him].
And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. And Peter followed him from a distance, right inside, into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the officers and warming himself by the fire. read more. Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, and they did not find [it]. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony was not consistent. And some stood up [and] began to give false testimony against him, saying, "We heard him saying, 'I will destroy this temple made by hands, and within three days I will build another not made by hands." And their testimony was not even consistent about this. And the high priest stood up in the midst [of them] [and] asked Jesus, saying, "Do you not reply anything? What are these [people] testifying against you?" But he was silent and did not reply anything. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" 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." And the high priest tore his clothes [and] said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What {do you think}?" And they all condemned him {as deserving death}. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him with their fists, and to say to him "Prophesy!" And the officers received him with slaps in the face. And [while] Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the female slaves of the high priest came up And [when] she saw Peter warming himself, she looked intently 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 a rooster crowed. And the female slave, [when she] saw him, began to say again to the bystanders, "This man is one of them!" But he denied [it] again. And after a little [while], again the bystanders began to say to Peter, "You really are [one] of them, because you also are a Galilean, and your accent {shows it}!" And he began to curse and to swear with an oath, "I do not know this man whom you are talking about!" And immediately a rooster crowed for the second time. And Peter remembered the statement, how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times," and throwing himself down, he began to weep.
And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they could destroy him, because they were afraid of the people.
And they arrested him [and] led [him] away and brought [him] into the house of the high priest. But Peter was following at a distance. And [when they] had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. read more. And a certain female slave, seeing him sitting in the light and looking intently at him, said, "This man also was with him!" But he denied [it], saying, "Woman, I do not know him!" And after a short time another person saw him [and] said, "You also are [one] of them!" But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" And [after] about one hour had passed, someone else was insisting, saying, "In truth this man also was with him, because he is also a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" And immediately, [while] he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. And the Lord turned around [and] looked intently at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went outside [and] wept bitterly. And the men who were guarding him began to mock him [while] they beat [him], and [after] blindfolding him they repeatedly asked [him], saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck you?" And they were saying many other [things] against him, reviling [him]. And when day came, the council of elders of the people gathered, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away to their Sanhedrin, saying, "If you are the Christ, tell us!" But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will never believe, and if I ask [you], you will never answer! But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." So they all said, "Are you then the Son of God?" And he said to them, "You say that I am." And they said, "Why do we have need [of] further testimony? For [we] ourselves have heard [it] from his mouth!"
So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs! If we allow him [to go on] in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." read more. But a certain one of them, Caiaphas (who was high priest in that year), said to them, "You do not know anything at all! Nor do you consider that it is profitable for you that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation not perish." (Now he did not say this from himself, but being high priest in that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also that the children of God who are scattered would be gathered into one.) So from that day they resolved that they should kill him. So Jesus was no longer walking openly among the Jews, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.
and brought [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 better [that] one man die for the people.) read more. So Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. (Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.) But Peter was standing by the door outside. So the other disciple [who was] known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. Then the female slave [who was] the doorkeeper said to Peter, "You are not also [one] of the disciples of this man, [are you]?" He said, "I am not!" (Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were warming themselves. And Peter was also standing there with them and warming himself.) So the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus replied to him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple [courts] where all the Jews assemble, and I have said nothing in secret. Why are you asking me? Ask those who heard what I have said to them! Behold, these [people] know what I said." Now [when] he had said these [things], one of the officers who was standing by gave a slap in the face to Jesus, saying, "Do you reply to the high priest in this way?" Jesus replied to him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify about what [is] wrong! But if [I have spoken] correctly, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him, tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing there and warming himself. So 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 slaves of the high priest, who was related to the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" So Peter denied [it] again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
And [while] they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees approached them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. read more. And they laid hands on them and put [them] in custody until the next day, because it was already evening. But many of those who listened to the message believed, and the number of the men was approximately five thousand. And it happened that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes came together in Jerusalem, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were from the high priest's family.
Now the high priest rose up and all those [who were] with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), [and] they were filled with jealousy.
Now [when] they heard [this], they were infuriated, and were wanting to execute 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 named Caiaphas,
Now those who had arrested Jesus led [him] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.
And [after] tying him up, they led [him] away and handed [him] over to Pilate the governor.
in the time of the high priest Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
But a certain one of them, Caiaphas (who was high priest in that year), said to them, "You do not know anything at all! Nor do you consider that it is profitable for you that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation not perish."
and brought [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 better [that] one man die for the people.)
Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's residence. Now it was early, and they did not enter into the governor's residence so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.
and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were from the high priest's family.
Now the high priest rose up and all those [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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Now those who had arrested Jesus led [him] away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. And he went inside [and] was sitting with the officers to see the outcome. read more. Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order that they could put him to death. And they did not find [it], [although] many false witnesses came forward. And finally two came forward [and] said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild [it] within three days.'" And the high priest stood up [and] said to him, "Do you reply nothing? What are these [people] testifying against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath by the living God, that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus said to him, "You have said [it]. But I tell you, from now [on] 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 robes, saying, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have just now heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they answered [and] said, "{He deserves death}!" Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists, and they slapped [him], saying, "Prophesy for us, [you] Christ! Who is it who hit you?"
And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. And Peter followed him from a distance, right inside, into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the officers and warming himself by the fire. read more. Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, and they did not find [it]. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony was not consistent. And some stood up [and] began to give false testimony against him, saying, "We heard him saying, 'I will destroy this temple made by hands, and within three days I will build another not made by hands." And their testimony was not even consistent about this. And the high priest stood up in the midst [of them] [and] asked Jesus, saying, "Do you not reply anything? What are these [people] testifying against you?" But he was silent and did not reply anything. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" 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." And the high priest tore his clothes [and] said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What {do you think}?" And they all condemned him {as deserving death}. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him with their fists, and to say to him "Prophesy!" And the officers received him with slaps in the face.
And when day came, the council of elders of the people gathered, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away to their Sanhedrin, saying, "If you are the Christ, tell us!" But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will never believe, read more. and if I ask [you], you will never answer! But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." So they all said, "Are you then the Son of God?" And he said to them, "You say that I am." And they said, "Why do we have need [of] further testimony? For [we] ourselves have heard [it] from his mouth!"
So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs!
(Now he did not say this from himself, but being high priest in that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and brought [him] to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
and brought [him] to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
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 a certain one of them, Caiaphas (who was high priest in that year), said to them, "You do not know anything at all! Nor do you consider that it is profitable for you that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation not perish."