Caiaphas

Caiaphas High Priest of Israel	Creation date: 11-Feb-2019
at Jesus Christ's trial	Last updated: 29-Jun-2020
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Sections

1	Who Was Caiaphas?	2	Jesus Christ was Arrested
3	How Caiaphas, in part, Ended the Priesthood of Israel

Who was Caiaphas?

Joseph Caiaphas, referenced in the Scriptures as Caiaphas, was the High Priest who had Jesus Christ arrested and brought to the Sanhedrin for standing trial. In Hebrew his full name was Yosef Bar Kayafa which is translated as Joseph, son of Caiaphas. He belonged to the Sadducees political party of the Sanhedrin.

Not much is known about the Sadducees. There are critics of the written history of the Sadducees who claim the sources are biased. What is proposed about the Sadducees is the following:

Founded in the 2nd Century B.C.E.
Known also as Zadokites or Tzedukim.
They did not necessarily believe in life after death.
Did not necessarily embrace the Pharisaic belief of a resurrection of the Dead to a life in Heaven.
They ceased to exists as a group after the destruction of the Temple in Israel around 70 AD.

Additional information sources concerning the Sanhedrin:

Josephus Flavius wrote that they were argumentative group with wealthy and powerful supporters.
Josephus Flavius implied in his writing that they were sympathetic and collaborated with the Romans.
Scriptural passages in the New Testament Scriptures
Writings about Talmud Rabbinic Judaism, gives some hints concerning the Sadducees liberal views that became part of the reformation of Judaism without a Temple.

Jesus Christ was Arrested

During the Last Supper, Judas Iscariot, sold the location of Jesus Christ to Caiaphas for 30 piece of silver coins. Jesus Christ of course knew of it, and told Judas Iscariot to leave the Last Supper so that he could give the location to Caiaphas for the arrest that occurred later that evening.

After the arrest by the Sanhedrin Guards at the Garden of Gethsemane, Mark 14:32-50, Jesus Christ was taken in from to the Sanhedrin for a series of mock trials that lasted throughout the night because the Sanhedrin wanted to complete everything before the Passover Celebration and Feast Week.

When Jesus Christ was taken to Caiaphas, it was evening but it was the start of the 14th of Nissan:

In our current time convention of midnight to midnight, the day was Tuesday evening.
In the Jewish time convention of sundown to sundown, the day was the beginning of Wednesday. The next sundown would be the 15th of Nissan, which is the Passover meal.

The trials that went through the night were done so that Jesus Christ could be taken to the Roman Authorities at daytime hours began for the request of execution. This is explained in great details in the topic of the Day Jesus Christ Died on the Cross.

Matthew 26:57-64

57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

How Caiaphas, in part, Ended the Priesthood of Israel

According to Leviticus 10:6, the High Priest was prohibited from tearing his garments. Jesus Christ's mission also was to establish a new Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.

Leviticus 10:6

And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, “Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the Lord has kindled.

When Caiaphas torn his clothes, this one way that ended the Levitical Priesthood along with the Crucifixion where Jesus Christ took the line after Melchizedek.

Matthew 26:65-68

⁶⁵Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.⁶⁷Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

What to read next?

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