Acts 4:6 - Exposition

Annas the high priest was there for Annas the high priest, A.V. This is the same Annas as is mentioned in Luke 3:2 and John 18:13 , and is described as "father-in-law to Caiaphas." He is called by Josephus, Ananus. The succession of the high priests was so irregular, and their tenure of the office so uncertain, in these later years of the Jewish commonwealth, being dependent upon the caprice of the civil rulers who appointed and deposed them at their pleasure, that it does not surprise us to find Annas and Caiaphas high priests at the commencement of John the Baptist's ministry, then Caiaphas at the time of our Lord's passion, and now Annas again. It is possible, however, that Annas may have continued to be president of the Sanhedrim, and be called high priest, even when not actually so. He seems to have lived to old age. He is mentioned by Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 20, 60:1) as having had the singular felicity not only of enjoying the high priesthood himself for a great length of time, but of having five sons promoted to the dignity of high priest, viz. Eleazar, Jonathan, Theophilus, Mat-thins, and Ananus (or Annas). Caiaphas ( John 18:13 ). Of John and Alexander nothing further is known, but Farrar conjectures that John may be "the celebrated Johanan Ben Zakkai, and Alexander perhaps the wealthy brother of Philo". Of the kindred of the high priest ; rather, of the high priestly race. The high priests were only taken from certain families; the members of which were called ἀρχιερεῖς , or chief priests, A.V. ( Matthew 16:21 ; Matthew 26:47 , etc.), Many of these would naturally be the near relations of the high priest.