Caiaphas
The high priest who presided over the council that condemned Jesus, urging it 'better that one man die'.
What we know — and how we know it
deror_avi — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
ArchaeologyAn ornate 1st-century bone-box (ossuary) inscribed 'Joseph son of Caiaphas', found in Jerusalem in 1990, is widely thought to have held the high priest's remains.
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersJosephus names 'Joseph, who was called Caiaphas' as the high priest of these years — the same man who presided at Jesus's trial.
Where in scripture
MatthewLukeJohnActsThen the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
Matthew 26:3
Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
Matthew 26:57
Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
Matthew 26:65 — Charges Jesus with blasphemy
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
Luke 3:2
But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
John 11:49
nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”
John 11:50 — 'Better one man die'
and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
John 18:13
Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.
John 18:14
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In their own words — 5 recorded sayings
“And the high priest got up and said to him, Have you no answer? what is it which these say against you? But Jesus said not a word. And the high priest said to him, I put you on oath, by the living God, that you will say to us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” — Matthew 26:62-63
“Then the high priest, violently parting his robes, said, He has said evil against God: what more need have we of witnesses? for now his words against God have come to your ears: What is your opinion? They made answer and said, It is right for him to be put to death.” — Matthew 26:65-66
“And the high priest got up in the middle of them, and said to Jesus, Do you say nothing in answer? what is it which these say against you? But he kept quiet and said nothing. Again the high priest questioning him said, Are you the Christ, the son of the Holy One?” — Mark 14:60-61
“And the high priest, violently parting his robes, said, What more need have we of witnesses? His words against God have come to your ears: what is your opinion? And they all said it was right for him to be put to death.” — Mark 14:63-64
“But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, You have no knowledge of anything; You do not see that it is in your interest for one man to be put to death for the people, so that all the nation may not come to destruction.” — John 11:49-50
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Events
Places in their life
Photo: Godot13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
In art
