High Priest and influential leader of a priestly dynasty
Tunnetaan myös nimellä: Hannas, Ananus
Jeesuksen aikaHigh PriestPolitical powerbrokerHead of the priestly dynastyMember of the Jewish councilUnknown birth year – c. 40 AD
Annas was one of the most influential Jewish religious leaders in the first century. He was appointed high priest around 6 AD by the Roman governor Quirinius in Syria, and held the office formally until about 15 AD. Despite being deposed by the Romans, he continued to wield considerable power behind the scenes in Jewish society. His influence was so pervasive that five of his sons and his son-in-law Caiaphas all served as high priests after him—a priestly dynasty without parallel in the Second Temple period. In the New Testament, Annas appears as a figure with real authority: Jesus was brought to him first after his arrest, before being sent on to Caiaphas. Luke mentions Annas and Caiaphas side by side as high priests, underscoring his continued status. After Pentecost, Annas was also present in the council that interrogated the apostles Peter and John. Rabbinic sources refer critically to his family’s exercise of power at key moments, and together the sources portray a powerful figure operating at the intersection of Jewish religion and Roman politics.
Annas is named together with Caiaphas as high priest when God's word came to John the Baptist in the fifteenth year of Emperor Tiberius. The mention of two high priests at the same time is unusual and reflects Annas' continued religious and political influence even after his formal removal by the Romans.
1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
After Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane, he was first taken to Annas, the father-in-law of the reigning high priest Caiaphas. The fact that Jesus was brought to Annas first shows that he was still regarded as the true power within the circle of high priests.
Annas questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered that he had always spoken openly and urged Annas to ask those who had heard him. One of the guards then struck Jesus for this answer, which was seen as disrespectful toward the high priest.
20Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
Annas in the council assembly against the apostles
After Pentecost, Peter and John were brought before the Jewish council. Annas was present, and the text refers to him with the title high priest – an expression of his enduring status – along with Caiaphas and others from the high-priestly family. They questioned the apostles about the healing of the lame man at the temple gate.