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Caiaphas
CA'IAPHAS (ka'ya-fas).
A surname, the original name being
Joseph (Josephus Ant. 18.2.2); but, the surname becoming his ordinary and official
designation, it was used for the name itself. Caiaphas was the
high priest of the Jews in the reign of
Tiberius Caesar, at the beginning of the Lord's public ministry (Lk 3:2) and also at the time
of His crucifixion (Mt. 26:3,57; etc.).
He was appointed to this office through the curator Valerius Gratus and held
it during the whole procuratorship of
Pontius Pilate, but was deposed by the proconsul Vitellus, (38 AD).
Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas. His wife was the daughter of Annas, who
had formerly been high priest and who still possessed great influence and
control.
After
Christ was arrested He was taken before Annas, who sent Him to Caiaphas, probably
living in the same house. They determined that
Jesus deserved to die, but, as Caiaphas had no power to inflict the punishment of
death, Christ was taken to Pilate, the Roman governor, that His execution might
be duly ordered (Mt. 26:3,57; Jn 18:13,28).
Edersheim (Life and Times of Jesus): "The conjunction of the two names of
Annas and Caiaphas probably indicates that, although Annas was deprived of the
pontificate, he still continued to preside over the
Sanhedrin"
What became of Caiaphas is not known.