Caiaphas in Easton's Bible Dictionary
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 -T0000246.)
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