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Bible Encyclopedias
Annas
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (῎Αννας, probably a contracted form of the name Ananiah in its Greek form, ῎Ανανος ), a highpriest of the Jews mentioned in Luke (3, 2) as being high-priest along with Caiaphas his son-in-law. Our Lord's first hearing (John 18:13) was before Annas, who then sent him bound to Caiaphas. In Acts 4:6, he is plainly called the high-priest, and Caiaphas merely named with others of his family. He is called by Josephus Ananus (q.v.) the son of Seth; and was first appointed to that office in his 37th year by Quirinus, proconsul of Syria, about A.D. 7 (Ant. 18, 2, 1), but was afterward deprived of it by Valerius Gratus, procurator of Judaea (A.D. 14), who gave the office first to Ismael the son of Phabaeus, and a short time after to Eleazar the son of Annas (Josephus, Ant. 18, 2, 1 and 2). He held the office one year, and was then succeeded by Simon the son of Camithus, who, after another year, was followed by Joseph, also called Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Annas, A.D. ante 27, who continued in office until A.D. 37. In the passages of the New Testament above cited, therefore, it is apparent that Caiaphas was the only actual and proper high- priest; but Annas, being his father-in-law, and having been formerly himself high-priest, and being also perhaps his substitute (sagan), had great influence and authority, and could with great propriety be still termed high- priest along with Caiaphas. — (See Anger, De temp. p. 185: Lightfoot, Hor. Hebrews p. 744 sq.; Rus, Harmon. Evang. 1, 313 sq.; III, 2:962 sq.; Vitringa, Observ. Sacr. 6, 529 sq.; Casaubon, Exerc. antibar. p. 216 sq.; Wieseler, Chronol. Synops. p. 186 sq.; Selden, De Synedriis, 2, 655; Saubert, De Sacerdotio Ebrceor. 1, 5; Kuinol, Comment. on Luke 3:2.) (See HIGH-PRIEST). He died at an advanced age, and was succeeded by his first son in the sacerdotal dignity (Josephus, Ant. 20, 9, 1).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Annas'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/a/annas.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
