Six Trials

Six Trials
Six Trials
John 18:12-13

12 Then [oun] the band [speira] and [kai] the captain [chiliarchos] and [kai] officers [huperetes] of the Jews [Ioudaios] took [sullambano] Jesus [Iesous] , and [kai] bound [deo] him [autos] ,
13 And [kai] led [apago] him [autos] away [apago] to [pros] Annas [Annas] first [proton] ; for [gar] he was [en] father in law [pentheros] to Caiaphas [Kaiaphas] , which [hos] was [en] the high priest [archiereus] that same [ekeinos] year [eniautos] . KJV-Interlinear

12 So the Roman cohort and the commander, and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, 13 and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. NASB

And so it begins. The trials of Jesus started with an informal hearing before Annas (pronounced 'Ann as') Both a's are short a's in the pronunciation as it 'at.'

It is probably near midnight but we really do not know what the time is. Suffice to say, Jesus has been awake all day and into this night. He will not sleep any of the night, nor in the morning or following afternoon. When next His eyes close, He will have been crucified on the Cross.

The current High Priest was Caiaphas, but there is more story to this than meets the eye. Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas. Many years earlier, Annas, the son of Seth, was elevated to the position of High Priest by Quirinius, governor of Syria, in 7 AD. Roman governors filled the office at their whim.

In 15 AD Valerius Gratus dismissed Annas, but Annas had many friends and was powerful politically. He managed to keep the High Priest office through five of His sons and his son-in-law, Caiaphas. His fifth son, Ananus II, held the office in the early 60's AD, and is responsible for the death of James, Jesus brother, according to the historian, Josephus.

Despite his not holding the office of High Priest, because of his great wealth, and political status within the Sadducean aristocracy, he was still called High Priest.

He is said to have been arrogant, astute, ambitious and enormously wealthy. The chief source of his wealth coming from the sale of the required animals and ingredients for the temple sacrifices, such as sheep, doves, wine and oil. During the great feasts, he was able to extort high monopoly prices for his goods.

You'll recall that Jesus ran the merchants out of the Temple.

Though in the background, it is Annas who most probably orchestrated the execution of Jesus, more so than Caiaphas or Pilate. No other person in the history of the High Priesthood, held on to the title of High Priest, even though not officially in that position. Annas held it (the title) for nearly six decades, though he was not officially in the office, but he directed others.

Thus the first stop is to the real power in the Sanhedrin, Annas. He will question Jesus, but will receive little if anything from Him. Then Jesus will be sent to Caiaphas. Remember that it is still night time.

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