Caiaphas

Caiaphas, also written Caiphas, was the Jewish high priest in Jerusalem from about AD 18 to 36, during the period of Roman rule. He belonged to the powerful priestly faction and was the son-in-law of Annas, a former high priest who continued to exert influence. As high priest, Caiaphas held office with Roman approval, overseeing religious affairs in conjunction with the governing authorities during Pontius Pilate’s governorship in Judea.

In the New Testament, Caiaphas is depicted as presiding over the Sanhedrin during the trial of Jesus of Nazareth. The Gospels portray him as resisting Jesus’ ministry and urging that Jesus be condemned, arguing that his teachings threatened Jewish and Roman interests. Following a nighttime interrogation, the council is said to have handed Jesus over to Pilate for execution. The historical accuracy and interpretation of these accounts are debated among scholars, but Caiaphas is commonly presented as a central figure in the events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion.

Archaeology and later scholarship have added context to Caiaphas’ figure. The Caiaphas Ossuary, discovered in Jerusalem in 1990, bears the inscription Yosef bar Qayafa, interpreted by many as Joseph, son of Caiaphas. While the ossuary provides important epigraphic evidence for the name and family, direct identification with the high priest remains a matter of scholarly discussion. Together, biblical, historical, and archaeological sources shape the view of Caiaphas as a notable representative of the Jewish priesthood under Roman sovereignty in early first-century Judea.