1st century AD · high priest in the time of Jesus, around AD 30
Caiaphas in the Bible
The high priest who presided over Jesus’s trial. Name meaning: A name the Bible does not translate; Matthew writes, “the high priest, who was called Caiaphas” (Matt 26:3)
Caiaphas is high priest “that same year,” son-in-law of Annas. After the raising of Lazarus, he advises that “one man should die for the people” and, without knowing it, prophesies that Jesus would die for the nation (John 11:49-52). On the night of the arrest, Jesus is brought to his house: he puts Jesus under oath to say whether he is the Christ, tears his robes, and secures his condemnation. He appears once more among the rulers who question Peter and John (Acts 4:6).
Key moments
- He advises that one man die for the people John 11:50
- Without knowing it, he prophesies Jesus’s death for the nation John 11:51
- The rulers gather in his palace to arrest Jesus Matthew 26:3
- Annas sends Jesus, bound, to Caiaphas John 18:24
- He puts Jesus under oath to say whether he is the Christ Matthew 26:63
- He tears his robes: “He hath spoken blasphemy!” Matthew 26:65
- Jesus is led from Caiaphas to the Praetorium John 18:28
- He sits among the rulers who question Peter and John Acts 4:6
Strengths
- Authority
- Political calculation
- Hardness
Weaknesses
Caiaphas puts the people’s “expedience” and fear of the Romans above justice: he advises putting Jesus to death (John 11:48-50), a man Pilate will declare innocent of any crime (John 18:38). On the night of the trial, the council looks for false witnesses (Matt 26:59-60), and then Caiaphas pronounces blasphemy and secures the death sentence (Matt 26:65-66).
Lessons for today
- God can speak even through an adversary: Caiaphas prophesies Jesus’s death “for that nation” without knowing it (John 11:51-52).
- Political expedience never justifies injustice: out of fear of the Romans, the council chooses to put Jesus to death (John 11:47-53).
- You can hold a sacred office and still fail to recognize the Christ standing right in front of you (Matt 26:63-66).
- The rulers’ threats do not stop the apostles’ testimony: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye” (Acts 4:19).
And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
People around Caiaphas
- Annas — His father-in-law, also called high priest (John 18:13; Acts 4:6)
- Jesus — The prisoner he questions, puts under oath, and has condemned
- Pilate — The governor to whom Jesus is taken from his house (John 18:28)
- Peter — Follows Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, where he denies him; later appears before Caiaphas (Acts 4:6)
Stories with Caiaphas
Quiz: how well do you know Caiaphas?
What office did Caiaphas hold?
Matthew speaks of “Caiaphas the high priest,” to whose house Jesus was taken after his arrest; John adds that he held the office “that same year.” Matthew 26:57
What did Caiaphas do when Jesus announced the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power?
“Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?” Matthew 26:64–65
To whom was Jesus led from Caiaphas’s house in the morning?
They led Jesus “from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early,” and the rulers handed him over to the governor Pontius Pilate. John 18:28
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.