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 came to pass, when Jesus finished all these words, he said to his disciples, 'Ye have known that after two days the passover cometh, and the Son of Man is delivered up to be crucified.' read more. Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, to the court of the chief priest who was called Caiaphas; and they consulted together that they might take Jesus by guile, and kill him, and they said, 'Not in the feast, that there may not be a tumult among the people.'
And those laying hold on Jesus led him away unto Caiaphas the chief priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together, and Peter was following him afar off, unto the court of the chief priest, and having gone in within, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end. read more. And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death, and they did not find; and many false witnesses having come near, they did not find; and at last two false witnesses having come near, said, 'This one said, I am able to throw down the sanctuary of God, and after three days to build it.' And the chief priest having stood up, said to him, 'Nothing thou dost answer! what do these witness against thee? and Jesus was silent. And the chief priest answering said to him, 'I adjure thee, by the living God, that thou mayest say to us, if thou art the Christ -- the Son of God.' Jesus saith to him, 'Thou hast said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power, and coming upon the clouds, of the heaven.' Then the chief priest rent his garments, saying, -- 'He hath spoken evil; what need have we yet of witnesses? lo, now ye heard his evil speaking; what think ye?' and they answering said, 'He is worthy of death.' Then did they spit in his face and buffet him, and others did slap, saying, 'Declare to us, O Christ, who he is that struck thee?'
And the passover and the unleavened food were after two days, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how, by guile, having taken hold of him, they might kill him;
And they led away Jesus unto the chief priest, and come together to him do all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes; and Peter afar off did follow him, to the inside of the hall of the chief priest, and he was sitting with the officers, and warming himself near the fire. read more. And the chief priests and all the sanhedrim were seeking against Jesus testimony -- to put him to death, and they were not finding, for many were bearing false testimony against him, and their testimonies were not alike. And certain having risen up, were bearing false testimony against him, saying -- We heard him saying -- I will throw down this sanctuary made with hands, and by three days, another made without hands I will build;' and neither so was their testimony alike. And the chief priest, having risen up in the midst, questioned Jesus, saying, 'Thou dost not answer anything! what do these testify against thee?' and he was keeping silent, and did not answer anything. Again the chief priest was questioning him, and saith to him, 'Art thou the Christ -- the Son of the Blessed?' and Jesus said, 'I am; and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power, and coming with the clouds, of the heaven.' And the chief priest, having rent his garments, saith, 'What need have we yet of witnesses? Ye heard the evil speaking, what appeareth to you?' and they all condemned him to be worthy of death, and certain began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say to him, 'Prophesy;' and the officers were striking him with their palms. And Peter being in the hall beneath, there doth come one of the maids of the chief priest, and having seen Peter warming himself, having looked on him, she said, 'And thou wast with Jesus of Nazareth!' and he denied, saying, 'I have not known him, neither do I understand what thou sayest;' and he went forth without to the porch, and a cock crew. And the maid having seen him again, began to say to those standing near -- 'This is of them;' and he was again denying. And after a little again, those standing near said to Peter, 'Truly thou art of them, for thou also art a Galilean, and thy speech is alike;' and he began to anathematize, and to swear -- 'I have not known this man of whom ye speak;' and a second time a cock crew, and Peter remembered the saying that Jesus said to him -- 'Before a cock crow twice, thou mayest deny me thrice;' and having thought thereon -- he was weeping.
and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they may take him up, for they were afraid of the people.
And having taken him, they led and brought him to the house of the chief priest. And Peter was following afar off, and they having kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and having sat down together, Peter was sitting in the midst of them, read more. and a certain maid having seen him sitting at the light, and having earnestly looked at him, she said, 'And this one was with him!' and he disowned him, saying, 'Woman, I have not known him.' And after a little, another having seen him, said, 'And thou art of them!' and Peter said, 'Man, I am not.' And one hour, as it were, having intervened, a certain other was confidently affirming, saying, 'Of a truth this one also was with him, for he is also a Galilean;' and Peter said, 'Man, I have not known what thou sayest;' and presently, while he is speaking, a cock crew. And the Lord having turned did look on Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said to him -- 'Before a cock shall crow, thou mayest disown me thrice;' and Peter having gone without, wept bitterly. And the men who were holding Jesus were mocking him, beating him; and having blindfolded him, they were striking him on the face, and were questioning him, saying, 'Prophesy who he is who smote thee?' and many other things, speaking evilly, they spake in regard to him. And when it became day there was gathered together the eldership of the people, chief priests also, and scribes, and they led him up to their own sanhedrim, saying, 'If thou be the Christ, tell us.' And he said to them, 'If I may tell you, ye will not believe; and if I also question you, ye will not answer me or send me away; henceforth, there shall be the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God.' And they all said, 'Thou, then, art the Son of God?' and he said unto them, 'Ye say it, because I am;' and they said, 'What need yet have we of testimony? for we ourselves did hear it from his mouth.'
the chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees, gathered together a sanhedrim, and said, 'What may we do? because this man doth many signs? if we may let him alone thus, all will believe in him; and the Romans will come, and will take away both our place and nation.' read more. and a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being chief priest of that year, said to them, 'Ye have not known anything, nor reason that it is good for us that one man may die for the people, and not the whole nation perish.' And this he said not of himself, but being chief priest of that year, he did prophesy that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but that also the children of God, who have been scattered abroad, he may gather together into one. From that day, therefore, they took counsel together that they may kill him; Jesus, therefore, was no more freely walking among the Jews, but went away thence to the region nigh the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there he tarried with his disciples.
and they led him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest of that year, and Caiaphas was he who gave counsel to the Jews, that it is good for one man to perish for the people. read more. And following Jesus was Simon Peter, and the other disciple, and that disciple was known to the chief priest, and he entered with Jesus to the hall of the chief priest, and Peter was standing at the door without, therefore went forth the other disciple who was known to the chief priest, and he spake to the female keeping the door, and he brought in Peter. Then said the maid keeping the door to Peter, 'Art thou also of the disciples of this man?' he saith, 'I am not;' and the servants and the officers were standing, having made a fire of coals, because it was cold, and they were warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, and warming himself. The chief priests, therefore, questioned Jesus concerning his disciples, and concerning his teaching; Jesus answered him, 'I spake freely to the world, I did always teach in a synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews do always come together; and in secret I spake nothing; why me dost thou question? question those having heard what I spake to them; lo, these have known what I said.' And he having said these things, one of the officers standing by did give Jesus a slap, saying, 'Thus dost thou answer the chief priest?' Jesus answered him, 'If I spake ill, testify concerning the ill; and if well, why me dost thou smite?' Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the chief priest. And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, they said then to him, 'Art thou also of his disciples?' he denied, and said, 'I am not.' One of the servants of the chief priest, being kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off, saith, 'Did not I see thee in the garden with him?' again, therefore, Peter denied, and immediately a cock crew.
And as they are speaking unto the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees -- being grieved because of their teaching the people, and preaching in Jesus the rising again out of the dead -- read more. and they laid hands upon them, and did put them in custody unto the morrow, for it was evening already; and many of those hearing the word did believe, and the number of the men became, as it were, five thousand. And it came to pass upon the morrow, there were gathered together of them the rulers, and elders, and scribes, to Jerusalem, and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the chief priest,
And having risen, the chief priest, and all those with him -- being the sect of the Sadducees -- were filled with zeal,
And they having heard, were cut to the heart, and were taking counsel to slay 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 were gathered together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, to the court of the chief priest who was called Caiaphas;
And those laying hold on Jesus led him away unto Caiaphas the chief priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together,
and having bound him, they did lead away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
Annas and Caiaphas being chief priests -- there came a word of God unto John the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness,
and a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being chief priest of that year, said to them, 'Ye have not known anything, nor reason that it is good for us that one man may die for the people, and not the whole nation perish.'
and they led him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest of that year, and Caiaphas was he who gave counsel to the Jews, that it is good for one man to perish for the people.
They led, therefore, Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium, and it was early, and they themselves did not enter into the praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the passover;
and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the chief priest,
And having risen, the chief priest, and all those with him -- being the sect of the Sadducees -- were filled with zeal,
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 laying hold on Jesus led him away unto Caiaphas the chief priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together, and Peter was following him afar off, unto the court of the chief priest, and having gone in within, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end. read more. And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death, and they did not find; and many false witnesses having come near, they did not find; and at last two false witnesses having come near, said, 'This one said, I am able to throw down the sanctuary of God, and after three days to build it.' And the chief priest having stood up, said to him, 'Nothing thou dost answer! what do these witness against thee? and Jesus was silent. And the chief priest answering said to him, 'I adjure thee, by the living God, that thou mayest say to us, if thou art the Christ -- the Son of God.' Jesus saith to him, 'Thou hast said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power, and coming upon the clouds, of the heaven.' Then the chief priest rent his garments, saying, -- 'He hath spoken evil; what need have we yet of witnesses? lo, now ye heard his evil speaking; what think ye?' and they answering said, 'He is worthy of death.' Then did they spit in his face and buffet him, and others did slap, saying, 'Declare to us, O Christ, who he is that struck thee?'
And they led away Jesus unto the chief priest, and come together to him do all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes; and Peter afar off did follow him, to the inside of the hall of the chief priest, and he was sitting with the officers, and warming himself near the fire. read more. And the chief priests and all the sanhedrim were seeking against Jesus testimony -- to put him to death, and they were not finding, for many were bearing false testimony against him, and their testimonies were not alike. And certain having risen up, were bearing false testimony against him, saying -- We heard him saying -- I will throw down this sanctuary made with hands, and by three days, another made without hands I will build;' and neither so was their testimony alike. And the chief priest, having risen up in the midst, questioned Jesus, saying, 'Thou dost not answer anything! what do these testify against thee?' and he was keeping silent, and did not answer anything. Again the chief priest was questioning him, and saith to him, 'Art thou the Christ -- the Son of the Blessed?' and Jesus said, 'I am; and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power, and coming with the clouds, of the heaven.' And the chief priest, having rent his garments, saith, 'What need have we yet of witnesses? Ye heard the evil speaking, what appeareth to you?' and they all condemned him to be worthy of death, and certain began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say to him, 'Prophesy;' and the officers were striking him with their palms.
And when it became day there was gathered together the eldership of the people, chief priests also, and scribes, and they led him up to their own sanhedrim, saying, 'If thou be the Christ, tell us.' And he said to them, 'If I may tell you, ye will not believe; read more. and if I also question you, ye will not answer me or send me away; henceforth, there shall be the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God.' And they all said, 'Thou, then, art the Son of God?' and he said unto them, 'Ye say it, because I am;' and they said, 'What need yet have we of testimony? for we ourselves did hear it from his mouth.'
the chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees, gathered together a sanhedrim, and said, 'What may we do? because this man doth many signs?
And this he said not of himself, but being chief priest of that year, he did prophesy that Jesus was about to die for the nation,
and they led him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest of that year,
and they led him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest of that year,
and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the chief priest,
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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and a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being chief priest of that year, said to them, 'Ye have not known anything, nor reason that it is good for us that one man may die for the people, and not the whole nation perish.'