Annas

Annas (also Ananus^[1] or Ananias;^[2] Hebrew: חָנָן, khanán; Koinē Greek: Ἅννας, Hánnas; 23/22 BC – death date unknown,^[3] probably around AD 40) was appointed by the Roman legate Quirinius as the first High Priest of the newly formed Roman province of Judaea in AD 6 – just after the Romans had deposed Archelaus, Ethnarch of Judaea, thereby putting Judaea directly under Roman rule.

Annas appears in the Gospels and Passion plays as a high priest before whom Jesus is brought for judgment, prior to being brought before Pontius Pilate.

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The terms of Annas, Caiaphas, and the five brothers are:

Annas served officially as High Priest for ten years (AD 6–15), when at the age of 36 he was deposed by the procurator Valerius Gratus. Yet while having been officially removed from office, he remained as one of the nation's most influential political and social individuals, aided greatly by the fact that his five sons and his son-in-law Caiaphas all served at sometime as High Priests.^[4] His death is unrecorded. His son Annas the Younger, also known as Ananus the son of Ananus, was assassinated in AD 66 for advocating peace with Rome.^[2]

After Valerius Gratus deposed Ishmael ben Fabus from the high priesthood, he installed Eleazar ben Ananus, (15—16),^[5][6] a descendant of John Hyrcanus. It was a time of turbulence in Jewish politics, with the role of the high priesthood being contended for by several priestly families. Eleazar was likewise deposed by Gratus, who gave the office to Simon ben Camithus (17-18).

Caiaphas was married to the daughter of Annas (John 18:13). Gratus made him high priest after depriving Simon ben Camithus of the office.^[5] The comparatively long eighteen-year tenure of Caiaphas suggests he had established a good working relationship with the Roman authorities. Gratus' successor Pontius Pilate retained him as high priest.^[7]

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References in the Mosaic Law to "the death of the high priest" (Numbers 35:25, 28) suggest that the high-priesthood was ordinarily held for life.^{[citation needed]} Annas was still called "high priest" even after his dismissal, along with Caiaphas (Luke 3:2),^{[non-primary source needed]} perhaps for that reason.^{[verification needed][citation needed]} It is also thought^{[according to whom?]} that Annas also may have been acting as president of the Sanhedrin, or a coadjutor of the high priest.^{[verification needed][citation needed]}

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The involvement of the family of Annas may be implied in the plot to kill Lazarus of Bethany in John 12:10.^[8] Although Annas is not mentioned by name, several 19th-century writers (e.g., Johann Nepomuk Sepp and Abbé Drioux^{[full citation needed]}) considered that a concealed reference to Annas appears in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, pointing at a rich man with five brothers (Luke 16:28).^{[according to whom?]} If the rich man dressed in purple and fine linen (cf. Exodus 28:8) represents Caiaphas, as figurehead of the Sadducees, then Annas might be the "father" in Luke 16:27, and the "five brothers" Luke 16:28 might be Annas' five sons.^{[according to whom?]} The same argument^{[according to whom?]} highlights the potential correspondence between the father and five brothers who will not be convinced by Lazarus being raised from the dead (Luke 16:31) and the suggestion that Caiaphas and Annas (and the latter's five sons) would not believe, and–at least in part—plotted to have Lazarus killed after he was described as having been so raised (John 12:10).^{[according to whom?]}

Although Caiaphas was the properly appointed high priest, Annas, being his father-in-law and a former incumbent of the office, undoubtedly exercised a great deal of the power attached to the position.^[9] According to the Gospel of John (the event is not mentioned in other accounts), Jesus was first brought before Annas, whose palace was closer.^[10] Annas questioned him regarding his disciples and teaching, and then sent him on to Caiaphas, where some members of the Sanhedrin had met, and where in Matthew's account the first trial of Jesus took place (Matthew 26:57–68).

After Pentecost, Annas presided over the Sanhedrin before which the Apostles Peter and John were brought (Acts 4:6).

Annas has an important role in Jesus Christ Superstar, as one of the two main antagonists of the show (the other being Caiaphas) spurring Pontius Pilate to take action against Jesus. In almost all versions, Annas has a very high voice (almost reaching falsetto) to contrast against Caiaphas' bass. Despite being Caiaphas' father-in-law, Annas is generally played by a younger actor.

• List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Annas". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.

Wikisource has the text of the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article Annas.

• "Annas" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.