Do you remember that Jesus told Peter to put his sword away? Today in John 18:12-14 we see what happens next.
12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Peter put up his sword. Jesus was arrested and bound.
Then they did something I think is odd. They took him to the father-in-law of the high priest Caiaphas. They had him led before Annas. I gotta wonder why? Did Annas carry the most power? Why go to him first? Makes it feel like a conspiracy you know?
Caiaphas was the individual who had said that it is better for one man to die for the people.
Caiaphas was high priest. So why go to Annas? I didn’t know so I went looking for answers. Did you know that Annas used to be high priest until he was deposed by Roman Procrutor Gratus? In the eyes of the people though, he was still a highly influential man. His son Caiaphas was a puppet High Priest, put in place by the Romans.
Knowing this helps put the order of events into perspective doesn’t it? Go to the respected man first, the one still called high priest and let him decide how events should proceed.
The Romans had people in many places of “power” and that certainly confuses things in the Bible when we are trying to understand it all. This is a helpful clarification.
thank you, I found it helpful researching it, lessens my confusion.