Annas

Caiaphas’ father-in-law

Who was Annas?

Luke names him as high priest, together with Caiaphas, when John the Baptist began to preach. Luke 3:2-3
He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Jesus was taken first to his house. John 18:13
He was in the council that questioned Peter and John. Acts 4:5-7

Also called: Ananus, in the historian Flavius Josephus Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Annas”
Occupation: High priest Luke 3:2; Acts 4:6

What the Bible says

Luke 3:2-3

²Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. ³And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins;

John 18:13

And they led him away to Annas first, for he was father in law to Caiphas, who was the high priest of that year.

Acts 4:5-7

⁵And it came to pass on the morrow, that their princes, and ancients, and scribes, were gathered together in Jerusalem; ⁶And Annas the high priest, and Caiphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. ⁷And setting them in the midst, they asked: By what power, or by what name, have you done this?

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Annas

Before Jesus. Luke names him high priest, together with Caiaphas, when the word of God came to John the Baptist in the desert. Luke 3:2
Before Jesus. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. John 18:13
With Jesus. On the night Jesus was arrested, they took him first to the house of Annas. John 18:12-13
With Jesus. Meanwhile, Peter and another disciple went into the high priest’s courtyard. There Peter denied being a disciple of Jesus. John 18:15-17
With Jesus. There the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. John 18:19; NAB note on Jn 18, 13
With Jesus. Jesus answered that he had always spoken in public. A guard struck him. John 18:20-22
With Jesus. Annas sent Jesus, bound, to Caiaphas. John 18:24
Afterward. After Pentecost, he was on the Sanhedrin that questioned Peter and John. Acts 4:5-7
Afterward. The members of the Sanhedrin were amazed at the boldness of Peter and John, who were uneducated men. They recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13-14
Afterward. The Sanhedrin forbade them to speak in the name of Jesus. They threatened them and let them go, because all the people were praising God for the healing. Acts 4:18-21

Words of Annas

The Bible records no words spoken by Annas. John tells us the high priest questioned Jesus in his house, but he does not give his questions.

What they were like

He had great influence: Luke names him as high priest together with Caiaphas. Luke 3:2
In Acts, he comes first in the list of the leaders of the Sanhedrin. Acts 4:6

Not to be confused with

Caiaphas: Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas and the high priest “that year.” Jesus was taken first to Annas and then to Caiaphas. John 18:13, 24
Ananias: Ananias of Damascus was a disciple of Jesus. His name sounds like Annas, but he is a different person. Acts 9:10

What people ask

Why are two high priests named, Annas and Caiaphas?

Annas had been high priest before and still had great influence. Caiaphas, his son-in-law, was high priest at the time. Luke 3:2; John 18:13; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Annas”

Did Annas put Jesus on trial?

John tells of a questioning at night in his house, which is not in the other Gospels. Afterward, Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas. John 18:13, 19-24; NAB note on Jn 18, 13

Did the Jews kill Jesus?

The Church teaches that the blame cannot be laid on all the Jews of that time, nor on the Jews of today. And it says that the sins of all of us are the cause of the Passion. Catechism 597; Catechism 598

Were his sons high priests too?

Yes, according to the historian Flavius Josephus: five of his sons, besides his son-in-law Caiaphas. Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Annas”

What was the high priest?

The head of the priests. Only he entered the holiest part of the sanctuary, once a year, to ask forgiveness for the sins of the people. Hebrews 9:7

What did Peter and John answer the Sanhedrin?

They told the Sanhedrin to judge whether it was right to obey them rather than God. And they said they could not keep quiet about what they had seen and heard. Acts 4:19-20

The night of the Passion He questioned Jesus in his house, at night. John 18:13, 19 He sent Jesus, bound, to Caiaphas. John 18:24 He was on the Sanhedrin that…

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Who Annas is connected to

Caiaphas · father-in-law and son-in-law
Jesus · questioned him at night
Peter · questioned him before the council

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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