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| − | [[Image:Mattias Stom, Christ before Caiaphus.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Matthias Stom, Christ Before Caiaphas'']]
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| − | '''Yosef Bar Kayafa''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] יוסף בַּר קַיָּפָא, {{IPA|joˑsef bar qayːɔfɔʔ}}) (which translates as '''Joseph, son of Caiaphas'''<ref name="oxford">Metzger & Coogan (1993) ''Oxford Companion to the Bible'', p97.</ref>), also known simply as '''Caiaphas''' (Greek Καϊάφας) in the [[New Testament]], was the [[Roman Empire|Roman]]-appointed [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[List of High Priests of Israel|high priest]] between AD 18 and 37. In the [[Mishnah]], [[Parah]] 3:5 refers to him as Ha-Koph (the monkey), a play on his name for opposing Mishnat Ha-Hasidim.<ref>The Babylonian Talmud (Yavamot 15b) gives the family name as Kuppai, while the [[Jerusalem]] [[Talmud]] (Yevamot 1:6) mentions Nekifi.</ref> According to some parts of the New Testament, Caiaphas is involved in the [[Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus|trial]] of [[Jesus]] after his arrest in the [[Garden]] of [[Gethsemane]].
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| − | The [[Gospel of Matthew|Gospels of Matthew]] and [[Gospel of John|John]] (though not those of [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]]) mention Caiaphas in connection with the trial of Jesus. Because he was the [[high priest]], Caiaphas was also chairman of the high court. According to the Gospels, Jesus was arrested by the [[Jewish Temple|Temple]] guard and a hearing was organized by Caiaphas and others in which Jesus was accused of [[blasphemy]]. Finding him guilty, the Sanhedrin took him to the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] governor [[Pontius Pilate]], where they further accused him of [[sedition]] against Rome.
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| − | ==In the New Testament==
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| − | ===Matthew: trial of Jesus===
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| − | In [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] {{bibleverse-nb||Mat|26:57-26:67|NIV}}, Caiaphas, other chief priests, and the [[Bet Shammai]] dominated [[Sanhedrin]] of the time are depicted interrogating Jesus. They are looking for "false evidence" with which to frame Jesus, but are unable to find any. Jesus remains silent throughout the proceedings until Caiaphas demands that Jesus say whether he is the [[Christ]]. Jesus replies "[[I AM]]," and makes an allusion to the [[Son of Man]] coming on the clouds with power. Caiaphas and the other men charge him with [[blasphemy]] and order him beaten.
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| − | ===John: relations with Romans===
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| − | In [[Gospel of John|John]] {{bibleverse-nb||John|11|NIV}}, Caiaphas considers, with "the Chief Priests and [[Pharisees]]," what to do about Jesus, whose influence is spreading. They worry that if they "let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation." Caiaphas makes a political calculation, suggesting that it would be better for "one man" (Jesus) to die than for "the whole nation" to be destroyed.
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| − | In [[Gospel of John|John]] {{bibleverse-nb||John|18|NIV}}, Jesus is brought before [[Annas]] and Caiaphas and questioned, with intermittent beatings. Afterward, the other priests (Caiaphas does not accompany them) take Jesus to [[Pontius Pilate]], the Roman governor of [[Iudaea Province|Judea]], and insist upon Jesus' execution. Pilate tells the priests to judge Jesus themselves, to which they respond they lack authority to do so. Pilate questions Jesus, after which he states, "I find no basis for a charge against him." Pilate then offers the Jews the choice of one prisoner to release — said to be a [[Passover]] tradition — and the Jews choose a criminal named [[Barabbas]] instead of Jesus.
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| − | ===Political implications===
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| − | For Jewish leaders of the time, there were serious concerns about Roman rule and an insurgent [[Zealot]] movement in [[Beit Shammai]] to eject the Romans from [[Israel]]. The Romans would not perform execution over violations of [[Jewish law]], and therefore the charge of blasphemy would not have mattered to Pilate. Caiaphas' legal position, therefore, was to establish that Jesus was guilty not only of blasphemy, but also of proclaiming himself the [[messiah]], which was understood as the return of the [[King David|Davidic]] king. This would have been an act of sedition and prompted Roman execution.
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| − | ===Acts: Peter and John refuse to be silenced===
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| − | Later, in [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|4|NIV}}, [[Saint Peter|Peter]] and [[John the Apostle|John]] went before Annas and Caiaphas after having healed a crippled man. Caiaphas and Annas questioned the apostles' authority to perform such a miracle. When Peter, full of the [[Holy Spirit]], answered that Jesus of Nazareth was the source of their power, Caiaphas and the other priests realized that the two men had no formal education yet spoke eloquently about the man they called their savior. Caiaphas sent the apostles away, and agreed with the other priests that the word of the miracle had already been spread too much to attempt to refute, and instead the priests would need to warn the apostles not to spread the name of Jesus. However, when they gave Peter and John this command, the two refused, saying "We cannot keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard." <ref>Acts 4:20 NCV</ref>
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| − | ==Caiaphas in other sources==
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| − | Caiaphas' term in office was recorded by the first-century Jewish historian [[Josephus]]. He was appointed in AD 18 by the Roman [[List of Kings of Judea|procurator]] who preceded Pilate, [[Valerius Gratus]].<ref name="oxford"/>
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| − | In 1990, two miles south of present day [[Jerusalem]], 12 [[ossuary|ossuaries]] in the family tomb of a "Caiaphas" were discovered. One ossuary was inscribed with the full name, in [[Aramaic]] of "Joseph, son of Caiaphas," and a second with simply the family name of "Caiaphas".<ref name="oxford"/> After examination the bones were reburied on the [[Mount of Olives]].
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| − | ==Fictional portrayals==
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| − | Caiaphas was portrayed by [[Mattia Sbragia]] in [[Mel Gibson]]'s controversial 2004 film ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]''.
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| − | ==Etymology==
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| − | The name ''Caiaphas'' has three possible origins:
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| − | * "as comely" in [[Aramaic]]
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| − | * a "rock" or "rock that hollows itself out" ([[Cephas|Keipha]]) in Aramaic
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| − | * a "dell," or a "depression" in [[Chaldean]]
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| − | {{start box}}
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| − | {{succession box |
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| − | before=[[Simon ben Camithus]] |
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| − | title=[[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Israel]] |
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| − | years=18—36 |
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| − | after=[[Jonathan ben Ananus]]
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| − | }}
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| − | {{succession box | before = [[Shammai]] | title = [[Nasi]] | years = c. 20–30 | after = [[Gamaliel]]}}
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| − | {{end box}}
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| − | ==Notes==
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| − | {{reflist}}
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| − | ==References==
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| − | *Metzger, Bruce M., and Michael D. Coogan (eds.). ''The Oxford Companion to the Bible'', Oxford, UK: [[Oxford University Press]], 1993. ISBN 0195046455
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | {{commonscat|Caiaphas}}
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| − | *[http://dev.bible.org/netbible/dictionary.php?word=Caiaphas NETBible: Caiaphas]
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| − | *[http://www.abu.nb.ca/courses/NTIntro/images/CaiaphasOss.htm Images of the Ossuary of Caiaphas]
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| − | *[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=26&letter=C&search=Caiaphas Jewish Encyclopedia: Caiaphas]
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| − | *[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03143b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Caiaphas]
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| − | {{Template:New Testament people}}
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| − | [[Category:philosophy and religion]]
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| − | [[Category:religion]]
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| − | [[Category:Judaism]]
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| − | [[Category:Christianity]]
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| − | [[category:biography]]
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| − | {{credit|262136883}}
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