NT Characters: Annas and Caiaphas

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/annas-caiaphas/">website</a>.</p><p>Orchestrated execution of Jesus Christ. How could the holy priesthood established by Moses and Aaron become the mortal enemy of Jesus, the Messiah?</p><p><strong>Unrighteous priesthood</strong><br />How does the 1st century priesthood violates the original Levitical plan? It was <i>supposed</i> to be:</p><ul><li>High priesthood a lifetime appointment (Heb 7:23).</li><li>Holy — not assimilating to the dominant regional culture, but a shining beacon for all Israel <i>and</i> the watching world.</li><li>Separate from the monarchy. Priests (from the tribe of Levi) could not serve as kings (tribe of Judah). It's not good when religious leaders have political power, or when political leaders have spiritual power! The temptations to corruption are just too great.</li><li>Precedent: Hasmonean times (140-37 BC), with appointment of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristobulus_I">Aristobolus</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Annas, the father-in-law</strong><br /> </p><ul><li>Annas (or Ananus or Ananias) son of Seth, born before 20 BC, died around around AD 40.</li><li><i>Appointed</i> by the Roman legate Quirinius as the first High Priest of the newly formed Roman province of Iudaea in AD 6.</li><li>High priest AD 6-15, then deposed by procurator Gratus. Yet remained highly influential through his son-in-law and his 5 sons.</li><li>Putting it all together, here are the terms of Annas, Caiaphas, and the five brothers:<ul><li>Ananus (or Annas) the son of Seth (6–15)</li><li>Eleazar the son of Ananus (16–17)</li><li>Caiaphas, properly Joseph son of Caiaphas (18–36), married the daughter of Annas (John 18:13)</li><li>Jonathan the son of Ananus (36–37 and 44)</li><li>Theophilus the son of Ananus (37–41)</li><li>Matthias the son of Ananus (43)</li><li>Ananus the son of Ananus (63)</li></ul></li><li>Scriptures:<ul><li>Luke 3:2 — During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to