Joseph ben Caiaphas, known simply as Caiaphas in the New Testament, was the Jewish high priest during the years of Jesus' ministry, according to Josephus. The Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John indicate he was an organizer of the plot to kill Jesus. He famously presided over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus. The primary sources for Caiaphas' life are the New Testament, and the writings of Josephus. The latter records he was made high priest by the Roman procurator Valerius Gratus after Simon ben Camithus had been deposed.
Christ Before Caiaphas, by Matthias Stom.
"Christ before Caiaphas". The High Priest is depicted tearing his robe in grief at Jesus' perceived blasphemy (Giotto, Life of Christ, Scrovegni Chapel, Padua)
Ossuary with the name קפא carved into its side, found in Jerusalem in 1990. Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Christ Before Caiaphas, Antonio della Corna. Walters Art Museum.
In the New Testament, the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus refers to the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin following his arrest in Jerusalem and prior to the trial before Pontius Pilate. It is an incident reported by all three Synoptic Gospels of the New Testament, while the Gospel of John refers to a preliminary inquiry before Annas. The gospel accounts vary on a number of details.
Jesus about to be struck in front of former High Priest Annas, as in John 18:22 (Madrazo, 1803)
La negazione di Pietro, Arturo Viligiardi, 1888
Matthias Stom's depiction of Jesus before Caiaphas, c. 1630
Rembrandt's 1660 depiction of Peter's Denial. Jesus, in the upper right hand corner, is at the high priest's house, his hands bound behind him, and turns to look at Peter.
