Annas

Annas, whose name means one who answers or humble, served as high priest of Israel from approximately A.D. 6 to 15, when he was deposed by the Roman prefect Valerius Gratus. Despite his removal from office, Annas retained enormous personal authority and is described in Luke 3:2 as sharing the high priesthood alongside his son-in-law Caiaphas during the ministry of John the Baptist—a reflection of his continued political and religious influence.

Following Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane, he was first brought before Annas for a preliminary examination before being sent to Caiaphas for the formal trial before the Sanhedrin (John 18:13, 19–24). Annas also appears among the ruling authorities who interrogated Peter and John after the healing of the lame man at the temple gate (Acts 4:6). Five of Annas's sons and his son-in-law Caiaphas served as high priests during the first century, making him the patriarch of the most powerful priestly family in Jerusalem during the period of the Second Temple.