High Priest living at the time of the New Testament
Caiaphas, the high priest during Jesus' ministry, presided over Jesus' trial and played a key role in His crucifixion.
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Caiaphas was the high priest during the time of Jesus' ministry and played a significant role in the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion (Matt. 26:3, 57; Luk.3.2; Jhn.11.49; 18.13, 14, 24, 28; Act.4.6). He served as high priest from around AD 18 to 36, and was the son-in-law of Annas, another influential high priest. Caiaphas is most notable for his involvement in the trial of Jesus. After Jesus' arrest, He was brought before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. During this trial, Caiaphas questioned Jesus and ultimately charged Him with blasphemy (Matt. Act.26.63-66). Caiaphas then sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who sentenced Him to crucifixion. Caiaphas' actions were motivated by his concern for maintaining political stability and protecting the religious establishment from perceived threats (Jhn.11.49-50). After Jesus' resurrection, Caiaphas was involved in the persecution of the early Christian church, as seen in the trial of Peter and John (Act.4.6). Caiaphas' role in the Gospel narratives highlights the political and religious tensions of the time and the opposition faced by Jesus and His followers.
Part of: The High-Priestly Family
John says Jesus was led first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Luke lists both as high priests.
Sources: Scripture
Acts 4 names Annas, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander with "all who were of the high-priestly family" as the court that questioned Peter and John.
Sources: Scripture
John says Jesus was first sent to Annas, then to Caiaphas, then to Pilate. Jesus tells Pilate the one who delivered him has the greater sin.
Sources: Scripture
Caiaphas told the council it was expedient that one man die for the people, and John calls this an unwitting prophecy.
Sources: Scripture
Only John names the servant whose ear Peter cut off as Malchus, and only John names Peter as the swordsman. Luke says Jesus healed the ear.
Sources: Scripture
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The Jewish high priest (A.D. 27-36) at the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry, in the reign of Tiberius (Luke 3:2), and also at the time of his condemnation and crucifixion (Matt. 26:3, 57; John 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 (Acts 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” (John 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 (Matt. 27:2; John 18:28). At a later period his hostility to the gospel is still manifest (Acts 4:6). (See ANNAS.)
(depression), in full Joseph CAIAPHAS, high priest of the Jews under Tiberius. (Matthew 26:3,57; John 11:49; 18:13,14,24,28; Acts 4:6) The procurator Valerius Gratus appointed him to the dignity, He was son-in-law of Annas. [Annas]
CA'IAPHAS (depression) was the high priest of the Jews, a.d. 27-36, and therefore at the time of our Saviour's trial. John 11:49, Jer 25:51. The office was formerly held for life, but at this time it was filled and vacated at the pleasure of the Roman government. The raising of Lazarus roused the Sanhedrin to action, and Caiaphas turned their thoughts toward the execution of the hated and feared Prophet by deliberately advising his death on the score of expediency. His language was unconsciously prophetic. John 11:49-52. After Christ's arrest he was arraigned before Caiaphas. A vain effort having been made to secure false testimony sufficient for his condemnation, Caiaphas at last adjured him to declare whether he was indeed the Christ, the Son of God. On Jesus's answering affirmatively, Caiaphas pretended to be so shocked at his supposed blasphemy that he declared all further witness was unnecessary to convict him, and the council unanimously condemned him to death. Matt 26:65-68. As Caiaphas had no power to inflict the punishment of death, Christ was taken from him to Pilate, the Roman governor, John 18:28, that his execution might be duly ordered. See Annas. Before Caiaphas, Peter and John were brought for trial. Acts 4:6.
CA'IAPHAS (depression) was the high priest of the Jews, a.d. 27-36, and therefore at the time of our Saviour's trial. John 11:49, Jer 25:51. The office was formerly held for life, but at this time it was filled and vacated at the pleasure of the Roman government. The raising of Lazarus roused the Sanhedrin to action, and Caiaphas turned their thoughts toward the execution of the hated and feared Prophet by deliberately advising his death on the score of expediency. His language was unconsciously prophetic. John 11:49-52. After Christ's arrest he was arraigned before Caiaphas. A vain effort having been made to secure false testimony sufficient for his condemnation, Caiaphas at last adjured him to declare whether he was indeed the Christ, the Son of God. On Jesus's answering affirmatively, Caiaphas pretended to be so shocked at his supposed blasphemy that he declared all further witness was unnecessary to convict him, and the council unanimously condemned him to death. Matt 26:65-68. As Caiaphas had no power to inflict the punishment of death, Christ was taken from him to Pilate, the Roman governor, John 18:28, that his execution might be duly ordered. See Annas. Before Caiaphas, Peter and John were brought for trial. Acts 4:6.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
9 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G2533
At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.
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, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all!
They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people.
Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priestʼs family.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.