CAIPHAS, or Joseph Caiphas, High Priest of the Jews, succeeded Simon the Son of Camith in the High Priesthood, and after he had possessed this dignity for nine years, that is to say, from the year of the world 4029 to 4038. he was succeeded by Jonathan the Son of Ananus or Annas. Caïphas was High Priest in the year of the world 4037, which was that of Jesus Christ’s Death. He was deposed by Vitellius Governor of Syria. Caiphas married one of the Daughters of Annas, who also is called High Priest in the Gospel, because he had for a long time enjoyed this dignity.
When the Priests deliberated, whether they should lay hold of Jesus Christ, and put him to death, Caïphas told them, that there was no room for debating on that matter, and that it was expedient for one man to die for all the people, that the whole nation might not perish. This was a John xi. 49, 50.prophecy, which God suffered to be pronounced by the mouth of the High Priest on this occasion, to shew, that the Death of our Saviour would be the Salvation of the World.
After that Judas had betrayed Jesus Christ, and our Saviour, the night before his Passion, had been apprehended and bound in the Garden of Olives, he was first carried by the Soldiers, who had seized him, to the house of Annas, Father-in-law to Caïphas. Annas proposed several questions to him concerning his Disciples, John xviii. 21, 22.and his Doctrine. Jesus answered, that he had taught nothing in secret, and that all the people were witnesses of his Doctrine and Opinions. Whereupon one of Caïphas’s Servants struck him with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the High-Priest so? Annas however was not High Priest this year, but, as we have said, Caïphas. But as he had before been in this office, he still had the title given him.
Annas having thus heard what Jesus had to say, sent him back to his Son-in-law Caïphas, who perhaps lived in the same John xviii. 24.house. The Priests and Doctors of the law were there assembled to judge Jesus, and endeavoured to procure evidences against him, that they might be able to condemn him. The depositions of some false witnesses were heard; but their testimony not being sufficient to justify them in pronouncing sentence of Death against him, and Jesus continuing profoundly silent, Caïphas demanded of him, why he did not speak; but received no reply from him. Hereupon the High Priest said to him, I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us, whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus answered, Thou hast said: neverthe-less I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven. Upon hearing these words Caïphas rent his clothes, and said, What further need have we of witnesses? behold now you have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? they answered, he is worthy of death. Then Jesus was returned into the Soldiers hands, and the Assembly of the Priests separated, till early the next morning; when Caïphas and the rest of the Priests, the Doctors and the Senate, met again in the Sanhedrim, which was held in the Temple: thither Jesus was brought, and they asked him, Whether he was the Christ? He answered; tho’ I should tell ye, yet would ye not believe me; and if I should entreat you to set me at liberty, ye would not hearken unto me: but I say unto you, that ye shall one day see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of God. They said, Art thou then the Son of God? He answered, I am. Whereupon they concluded instantly, that he deserved death. And as the power of life and death was not lodged in their hands, but reserved to the Romans, they conducted him to Pilate, who was Governor of the Province, that he might confirm their Sentence, and give orders for his execution.
Two years after, that is to say, in the 35th year of the vulgar Æra, and 38th from the Birth of J. C. Vitellius Governor of Syria coming to Jerusalem at the time when the Feast of the Passover was celebrated, was received there very magnificently by the people; and as an acknowledgment for the honour done him, restored the custody of the High Priest’s ornaments to the Priests, remitted certain impositions, which were levied upon the fruits of the earth, and deposed the High Priest Caïphas. Josephus seems to place this deposition among the other favours granted by Vitellius to the Jews. What the end of Caïphas was, and when he died, we cannot tell. His house is shewn still at this day in Jerusalem. But how can we depend on monuments of this kind after so many revolutions, as have happened to the City of Jerusalem?