🕊️ The Way | Christian Leadership & Theology Series
Scripture Focus: John 18:13–24; Luke 3:1–2; Acts 4:1–22
Approximate Dates: Annas – High Priest c. A.D. 6–15; Caiaphas – High Priest c. A.D. 18–36
Historical Context: Second Temple Judaism under Roman occupation; transition from Herodian to imperial oversight.
Two Men, One Seat of Power
In the twilight years of Judean independence, the office of high priest had become both sacred and political. The Romans controlled appointments, turning what was once a lifelong, God-ordained position into a post of political expediency.
Enter Annas and Caiaphas, two names that appear side by side in the Gospels (Luke 3:2) — one the elder statesman, the other his son-in-law. Annas had served as high priest from A.D. 6 to 15 before being deposed by the Roman governor Valerius Gratus. Yet though Rome removed his title, Annas never relinquished his influence.
Caiaphas, his son-in-law, succeeded him under Pontius Pilate’s governorship and held the office from about A.D. 18 to 36 — an unusually long tenure. In truth, Caiaphas ruled the temple by title, but Annas ruled by tradition. Together, they formed a dynasty of power that spanned decades and shaped the religious politics of Jerusalem.
Their names stand at the intersection of history and theology — two men navigating Roman power, Jewish tradition, and divine providence at one of the most critical moments in salvation history.
