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Unger's Bible Dictionary - Annas
ANNAS
AN'NAS (an'as; a contracted form of Ananias). A high priest of the Jews.
Josephus calls him Ananus, the son of Seth. He was first appointed high priest by
Quirinius, proconsul of Syria, about A.D. 7 but was removed after seven years
(Kitto says fifteen years) by Valerius Gratus, procurator of Judea (Josephus Ant.
18.2.1-2). Annas is mentioned in Luke 3:2 as being high priest along with
Caiaphas. Our Lord's first hearing was before Annas (John 18:13), who sent Him bound
to Caiaphas (v. 24). In Acts 4:6 he is plainly called high priest. He had four
sons who filled that office, besides his son-in-law, Caiaphas. There have been
several theories advanced to reconcile the application of high priest to Annas
and Caiaphas at the same time. Kitto thinks that Annas was regarded as being
high priest jure divino and having authority in spiritual matters, whereas
Caiaphas was the pontiff recognized by the government. The probability is that his
great age, abilities, and influence, and his being the father-in-law of Caiaphas
made him practically the high priest, although his son-in-law held the office.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: F. Josephus Ant. 18.2.1-2; 20.9.1; A. Edersheim, Sketches of
Jewish Social Life in the Days of Christ (1961), pp. 239-48; E. Schurer, A History
of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ (1973-79), 2:184-236, 404-14.
(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of
Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)
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