Who was Caiaphas in the Bible?
High Priest, in the New Testament era
Caiaphas was the high priest during the time of Jesus' ministry and played a significant role in the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion (Matt. 26:3, 57; Luk.3.2; Jhn.11.49; 18.13, 14, 24, 28; Act.4.6). Caiaphas appears in 9 verses across 4 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Caiaphas?
Caiaphas was the high priest during the time of Jesus' ministry and played a significant role in the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion (Matt. 26:3, 57; Luk.3.2; Jhn.11.49; 18.13, 14, 24, 28; Act.4.6). He served as high priest from around AD 18 to 36, and was the son-in-law of Annas, another influential high priest. Caiaphas is most notable for his involvement in the trial of Jesus. After Jesus' arrest, He was brought before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. During this trial, Caiaphas questioned Jesus and ultimately charged Him with blasphemy (Matt. Act.26.63-66). Caiaphas then sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who sentenced Him to crucifixion. Caiaphas' actions were motivated by his concern for maintaining political stability and protecting the religious establishment from perceived threats (Jhn.11.49-50). After Jesus' resurrection, Caiaphas was involved in the persecution of the early Christian church, as seen in the trial of Peter and John (Act.4.6). Caiaphas' role in the Gospel narratives highlights the political and religious tensions of the time and the opposition faced by Jesus and His followers.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Caiaphas appear in the Bible?
Caiaphas is referenced in 9 verses across 4 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Acts 4:6
- John 11:49
- John 18:13
- John 18:14
- John 18:24
- John 18:28
- Luke 3:2
- Matthew 26:3
- Matthew 26:57
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Caiaphas.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Caiaphas?
Caiaphas appears in 9 verses across 4 books, most often in John, which accounts for 5 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Caiaphas?
John, Matthew, Acts, Luke.
Where can I read every verse about Caiaphas?
This page lists 9 of them. Protos carries all 9, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
