Who Was Annas in the Bible?
Short answer
Annas was a former Jewish high priest and the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at the time of Jesus’ trial. Though he no longer held the official office, Annas still wielded enormous influence, and Jesus was brought to him first for questioning before being sent to Caiaphas (John 18:12–13). Annas also appears later opposing Peter and John in the book of Acts.
If you have read the account of Jesus’ arrest and wondered why he was taken to Annas before Caiaphas, you are not alone — it is easy to miss just how much power this one man held. Annas was not the official high priest anymore by the time Jesus stood before him, yet he still controlled much of Jerusalem’s religious establishment from behind the scenes.
His story is a window into the political and religious pressures Jesus faced in his final hours, and into a family dynasty that kept resisting the gospel long after the resurrection. This page looks at who Annas was, what happened when Jesus stood before him, and what his story still has to say to us.
Annas the power behind the high priesthood
Annas was appointed high priest by the Roman governor around AD 6 and deposed by another Roman official around AD 15, yet under Jewish tradition the high priesthood was meant to be a lifelong role, so many Jews still regarded him with the honor of the office long after Rome removed him. Annas went on to see five of his own sons, and his son-in-law Caiaphas, serve as high priest in turn — a genuine religious dynasty controlling Jerusalem’s temple establishment for decades. John 18:13 notes that Caiaphas “was high priest that year,” yet Jesus was still taken to Annas first, a detail that only makes sense once you understand how much real power Annas still held.
Jesus before Annas
John 18:12–24 records that after Jesus’ arrest in the garden, he was bound and brought first to Annas for a midnight interrogation about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered plainly: “I have spoken openly to the world… why question me? Ask those who heard me.” An official standing nearby struck Jesus for the answer, and Annas then sent Jesus, still bound, on to Caiaphas for the more formal proceeding.
Luke 3:2 had already named “the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas” together years earlier, showing that the two men shared influence long before this night. The scene is less a fair hearing than a display of entrenched power testing an innocent man.
Annas and the apostles in Acts
Annas resurfaces in Acts 4:5–6, after Peter and John heal a lame man at the temple gate and preach about the risen Christ. The rulers, elders, and teachers of the law gather in Jerusalem to question the apostles, and Annas is named among them alongside Caiaphas and other members of the high-priestly family. The same family that opposed Jesus now opposes his followers, showing that the resistance Jesus faced did not end with his death and resurrection — it simply found a new target.
What Annas’s story teaches us
Annas represents the danger of entrenched religious power turned against the truth it was meant to protect. What stands out most, though, is the contrast: while Annas leveraged influence and intimidation, Jesus responded with calm honesty, refusing to retaliate even when struck unjustly.
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate” (1 Peter 2:23) describes exactly this moment. For anyone who has faced unfair treatment from someone in authority, Annas and Jesus together offer both an honest picture of injustice and a model for facing it — truth spoken plainly, without fear, and without returning evil for evil.
Key Bible verses
- “And brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.” — John 18:13
- “During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” — Luke 3:2
- “The rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas…” — Acts 4:5–6
Frequently asked questions
Was Annas the high priest when Jesus was crucified?
Not officially — Caiaphas held the title at that time. But Annas, his father-in-law, was a former high priest who still carried great influence and was the first person to question Jesus after his arrest.
Why was Jesus taken to Annas first?
John 18:13 records that Jesus was taken to Annas first, most likely because of his seniority and continuing influence within the priestly family, even though he no longer held the official office.
Is Annas mentioned anywhere else in the Bible?
Yes. Luke 3:2 names him alongside Caiaphas as high priest when John the Baptist began preaching, and Acts 4:6 lists him among the religious leaders who interrogated Peter and John.
What does Annas’s story teach Christians today?
It shows how earthly power can resist God’s truth, and how Jesus responded to unjust interrogation with calm honesty rather than retaliation — a model for believers who face opposition or unfair treatment.