Annas (also Ananus or Ananias; Hebrew: חָנָן, khanán; Koinē Greek: Ἅννας, Hánnas; 23/22 BC – death date unknown, probably around AD 40) was appointed by the Roman legate Quirinius as the first High Priest of the newly formed Roman province of Judaea in AD 6 – just after the Romans had deposed Archelaus, Ethnarch of Judaea, thereby putting Judaea directly under Roman rule.
Annas appears in the Gospels and Passion plays as a high priest before whom Jesus is brought for judgment, prior to being brought before Pontius Pilate.
The sacerdotal family
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The terms of Annas, Caiaphas, and the five brothers are:
Ananus (or Annas), son of Seth (6–15)
Annas served officially as High Priest for ten years (AD 6–15), when at the age of 36 he was deposed by the procurator Valerius Gratus. Yet while having been officially removed from office, he remained as one of the nation's most influential political and social individuals, aided greatly by the fact that his five sons and his son-in-law Caiaphas all served at sometime as High Priests. His death is unrecorded. His son Annas the Younger, also known as Ananus the son of Ananus, was assassinated in AD 66 for advocating peace with Rome.
| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byJoazar ben Boethus | High Priest of Israel c.6—15 |
Succeeded byIshmael ben Fabus |
Eleazar ben Ananus (16–17)
After Valerius Gratus deposed Ishmael ben Fabus from the high priesthood, he installed Eleazar ben Ananus, (15—16), a descendant of John Hyrcanus. It was a time of turbulence in Jewish politics, with the role of the high priesthood being contended for by several priestly families. Eleazar was likewise deposed by Gratus, who gave the office to Simon ben Camithus (17-18).
| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byIshmael ben Fabus | High Priest of Israel 16-17 |
Succeeded bySimon ben Camithus |
Caiaphas (18–36)
Caiaphas was married to the daughter of Annas (John 18:13). Gratus made him high priest after depriving Simon ben Camithus of the office. The comparatively long eighteen-year tenure of Caiaphas suggests he had established a good working relationship with the Roman authorities. Gratus' successor Pontius Pilate retained him as high priest.
| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded bySimon ben Camithus | High Priest of Israel 18-36 |
Succeeded byJonathan ben Ananus |
Jonathan ben Ananus (36–37)
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| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byCaiaphas | High Priest of Israel 36—37 |
Succeeded byTheophilus ben Ananus |
Theophilus ben Ananus (37–41)
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| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byJonathan ben Ananus | High Priest of Israel 36—37 |
Succeeded bySimon Cantatheras ben Boethus |
Matthias ben Ananus (43)
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| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded bySimon Cantatheras ben Boethus | High Priest of Israel 43 |
Succeeded byElioneus ben Simon Cantatheras |
Jonathan ben Ananus (44)
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| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byElioneus ben Simon Cantatheras | High Priest of Israel 44 |
Succeeded byJosephus ben Camydus |
Ananus ben Ananus (63)
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References in the Mosaic Law to "the death of the high priest" (Numbers 35:25, 28) suggest that the high-priesthood was ordinarily held for life. Annas was still called "high priest" even after his dismissal, along with Caiaphas (Luke 3:2), perhaps for that reason. It is also thought that Annas also may have been acting as president of the Sanhedrin, or a coadjutor of the high priest.
| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byJoseph Cabi ben Simon | High Priest of Israel 63 |
Succeeded byJesus son of Damneus |
In the New Testament
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The plot to kill Lazarus of Bethany
The involvement of the family of Annas may be implied in the plot to kill Lazarus of Bethany in John 12:10. Although Annas is not mentioned by name, several 19th-century writers (e.g., Johann Nepomuk Sepp and Abbé Drioux) considered that a concealed reference to Annas appears in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, pointing at a rich man with five brothers (Luke 16:28). If the rich man dressed in purple and fine linen (cf. Exodus 28:8) represents Caiaphas, as figurehead of the Sadducees, then Annas might be the "father" in Luke 16:27, and the "five brothers" Luke 16:28 might be Annas' five sons. The same argument highlights the potential correspondence between the father and five brothers who will not be convinced by Lazarus being raised from the dead (Luke 16:31) and the suggestion that Caiaphas and Annas (and the latter's five sons) would not believe, and–at least in part—plotted to have Lazarus killed after he was described as having been so raised (John 12:10).
The trial of Jesus
Although Caiaphas was the properly appointed high priest, Annas, being his father-in-law and a former incumbent of the office, undoubtedly exercised a great deal of the power attached to the position. According to the Gospel of John (the event is not mentioned in other accounts), Jesus was first brought before Annas, whose palace was closer. Annas questioned him regarding his disciples and teaching, and then sent him on to Caiaphas, where some members of the Sanhedrin had met, and where in Matthew's account the first trial of Jesus took place (Matthew 26:57–68).
In the Book of Acts
After Pentecost, Annas presided over the Sanhedrin before which the Apostles Peter and John were brought (Acts 4:6).
Cultural references
Annas has an important role in Jesus Christ Superstar, as one of the two main antagonists of the show (the other being Caiaphas) spurring Pontius Pilate to take action against Jesus. In almost all versions, Annas has a very high voice (almost reaching falsetto) to contrast against Caiaphas' bass. Despite being Caiaphas' father-in-law, Annas is generally played by a younger actor.
See also
References
- Josephus, The Complete Works, Thomas Nelson Publishers (Nashville, Tennessee, US), 20.9.1 (1998)
- ^ Goodman, Martin, "Rome & Jerusalem", Penguin Books, p.12 (2007)
- "Glossary | Ananus Ben Seth".
- Josephus, Jewish Antiquities XX, 9.1; "It is said that the elder Ananus was extremely fortunate. For he had five sons, all of whom, after he himself had previously enjoyed the office for a very long period, became high priests of God - a thing that had never happened to any other of our high priests."
- ^ Josephus Antiquities 18.2.2
- "High Priests of the Second Temple Period", Jewish Virtual Library
- Lendering, Jona. "Caiaphas". www.livius.org.
- Friedrich Gustav Lisco, (trans. Patrick Fairbairn) The parables of Jesus: explained and illustrated 1853 p343 "Many expositors have thought they discovered, in this story, a real history, and referred it to the family of Annas and his son-in-law, Caiaphas,"
- Enelow, H.G., "Annas", Jewish Encyclopedia
- Gottheil, Richard; Krauss, Samuel. "Caiaphas". 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Annas". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.
External links
- "Annas" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.