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{{Short description|1st century CE High Priest of the Roman province of Iudaea}}
{{redirect|Ananus}}
{{About|the Jewish High Priest|the Indian currency unit|Indian anna}}
[[File:Duccio di Buoninsegna - Christ before Annas.jpg|thumb|"Christ before Annas" ([[Duccio di Buoninsegna]]), {{circa|1308–11}})]]
[[File:Annas and Kajafas 001.jpg|thumb|"Annas and [[Caiaphas]]" (Dutch, {{circa|1500}})]]
'''Annas''' (also '''Ananus'''<ref>Josephus, ''The Complete Works'', Thomas Nelson Publishers (Nashville, Tennessee, US), 20.9.1 (1998)</ref> or '''Ananias''';<ref name="Goodman">Goodman, Martin, "Rome & Jerusalem", Penguin Books, p.12 (2007)</ref> {{Langx|he|חָנָן}}, {{transliteration|he|Ḥānān}}; {{langx|grc-x-koine|Ἅννας}}, {{transliteration|grc|Hánnas}}; 23/22 BC – death date unknown,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thesongofgod.com/glossary/a/ananus-ben-seth.html | title=Glossary &#124; Ananus Ben Seth }}</ref> probably around AD 40) was appointed by the Roman legate [[Quirinius]] as the first [[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest]] of the newly formed Roman province of [[Judaea Province|Judaea]] in AD 6 – just after the Romans had deposed [[Herod Archelaus|Archelaus]], Ethnarch of [[Judea|Judaea]], thereby putting Judaea directly under Roman rule.

Annas appears in the [[Gospel]]s and [[Passion plays]] as a high priest before whom [[Jesus]] is brought for judgment, prior to being brought before [[Pontius Pilate]].

==The sacerdotal family==
{{refimprove section|date = March 2024}}
The terms of Annas, [[Caiaphas]], and the five brothers are:

===Ananus (or Annas), son of Seth (6–15)===
Annas served officially as High Priest for ten years (AD 6–15), when at the age of 36 he was deposed by the procurator [[Valerius Gratus]]. Yet while having been officially removed from office, he remained as one of the nation's most influential political and social individuals, aided greatly by the fact that his five sons and his son-in-law [[Caiaphas]] all served at sometime as High Priests.<ref>Josephus, ''Jewish Antiquities'' XX, 9.1; "It is said that the elder Ananus was extremely fortunate. For he had five sons, all of whom, after he himself had previously enjoyed the office for a very long period, became high priests of God - a thing that had never happened to any other of our high priests."</ref> His death is unrecorded. His son Annas the Younger, also known as [[Ananus the son of Ananus]], was assassinated in AD 66 for advocating peace with Rome.<ref name="Goodman" />

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|jw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Joazar ben Boethus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Israel]]|years=c.6—15}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ishmael ben Fabus]]}}
{{s-end}}

===[[Eleazar ben Ananus]] (16–17)===
After [[Valerius Gratus]] deposed [[Ishmael ben Fabus]] from the high priesthood, he installed Eleazar ben Ananus, (15—16),<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Josephus]] ''Antiquities'' 18.2.2</ref><ref>[https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/high-priests-of-the-second-temple-period "High Priests of the Second Temple Period", Jewish Virtual Library]</ref> a descendant of [[John Hyrcanus]]. It was a time of turbulence in Jewish politics, with the role of the high priesthood being contended for by several priestly families. Eleazar was likewise deposed by Gratus, who gave the office to [[Simon ben Camithus]] (17-18).

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|jw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ishmael ben Fabus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Israel]]|years=16-17}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Simon ben Camithus]]}}
{{s-end}}

===[[Caiaphas]] (18–36)===
Caiaphas was married to the daughter of Annas (John 18:13). Gratus made him high priest after depriving Simon ben Camithus of the office.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>  The comparatively long eighteen-year tenure of Caiaphas suggests he had established a good working relationship with the Roman authorities. Gratus' successor [[Pontius Pilate]] retained him as high priest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livius.org/articles/person/caiaphas/|author= Lendering, Jona|title=Caiaphas|website=www.livius.org}}</ref>

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|jw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Simon ben Camithus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Israel]]|years=18-36}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jonathan ben Ananus]]}}
{{s-end}}

===[[Jonathan ben Ananus]] (36–37)===
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{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|jw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Caiaphas]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Israel]]|years=36—37}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Theophilus ben Ananus]]}}
{{s-end}}

===[[Theophilus ben Ananus]] (37–41)===
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{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|jw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jonathan ben Ananus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Israel]]|years=36—37}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Simon Cantatheras ben Boethus]]}}
{{s-end}}

===[[Matthias ben Ananus]] (43)===
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{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|jw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Simon Cantatheras ben Boethus]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Israel]]|years=43}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Elioneus ben Simon Cantatheras]]}}
{{s-end}}

===[[Jonathan ben Ananus]] (44)===
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{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|jw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Elioneus ben Simon Cantatheras]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Israel]]|years=44}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Josephus ben Camydus]]}}
{{s-end}}

===[[Ananus ben Ananus]] (63)===
{{expand section | with=sources to support text that appears, as well as the contentions of the section heading and the table following | small = no | date = March 2024}}
References in the [[Torah|Mosaic Law]] to "the death of the high priest" ({{bibleref2|Numbers|35:25, 28|NKJV}}) suggest that the high-priesthood was ordinarily held for life.{{cn|date = March 2024}} Annas was still called "high priest" even after his dismissal, along with [[Caiaphas]] ([[Luke 3:2]]),{{primary source inline|date = March 2023}} perhaps for that reason.{{check|date = March 2024}}{{cn|date = March 2024}}  It is also thought{{says who|date = March 2024}} that Annas also may have been acting as president of the [[Sanhedrin]], or a coadjutor of the high priest.{{check|date = March 2024}}{{cn|date = March 2024}}

<!--The Damascus document{{what|date = March 2024}} states that after 60 they no longer are to hold the priest office because "god{{what|date = March 2024}} takes wisdom away at that age" HIDDEN BECAUSE NO CLOSING PUNCTUATION, NO SOURCE, AND SUSPECT ELEMENTS IN QUOTE.-->

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|jw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Joseph Cabi ben Simon]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of High Priests of Israel|High Priest of Israel]]|years=63}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jesus son of Damneus]]}}
{{s-end}}

==In the New Testament==
{{original research|section|date = March 2024}}
===The trial of Jesus===
Although Caiaphas was the properly appointed high priest, Annas, being his father-in-law and a former incumbent of the office, he possibly retained some of the power attached to the position.<ref>[https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1554-annas Enelow, H.G., "Annas", ''Jewish Encyclopedia'']</ref> According to the [[Gospel of John]] (the event is not mentioned in other accounts), [[Jesus]] was first brought before Annas, whose palace was closer.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Richard|last1=Gottheil|first2=Samuel|last2=Krauss|chapter-url=http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3903-caiaphas|title=1906 Jewish Encyclopedia|chapter=Caiaphas|website=Jewish Encyclopedia|access-date=11 January 2019}}</ref> Annas questioned him regarding his disciples and teaching, and then sent him on to Caiaphas, where some members of the Sanhedrin had met, and where in Matthew's account the [[Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus|first trial of Jesus]] took place ({{bibleverse|Matthew|26:57-68|KJV}}).

===In the Book of Acts===
After [[Pentecost]], Annas presided over the Sanhedrin before which the [[Twelve apostles|Apostles]] [[Saint Peter|Peter]] and [[John the Evangelist|John]] were brought ({{bibleverse|Acts|4:6|KJV}}).

==Cultural references==
Annas has an important role in ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'', as one of the two main antagonists of the show (the other being [[Caiaphas]]) spurring [[Pontius Pilate]] to take action against Jesus. In almost all versions, Annas has a high voice to contrast against Caiaphas' [[bass voice|bass]]. Despite being Caiaphas' father-in-law, Annas is generally played by a younger actor.

==See also==
* [[List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{eastons|wstitle=Annas}}

==External links==
{{CE1913 poster|Annas}}
* {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Annas|short=x}}

{{High Priests of Judaism}}
{{New Testament people}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1st-century high priests of Israel]]
[[Category:People in the Gospel of John]]
[[Category:People in Acts of the Apostles]]