John 18:13 — Community Reflections

JOHN 18:13 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.”

First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year — The preliminary examination before Annas (not mentioned in Synoptics) establishes the Jewish trial's complexity. Annas, retired high priest with continued influence, conducts the initial interrogation. The phrase "high priest that year" (ho archiereus tou eniautos ekeinou) is sometimes misread as suggesting annual rotation, but likely emphasizes the single year of Jesus' death—a year of unusual providence. The family connection (Annas-Caiaphas) reveals dynastic priestly power.

Church Fathers on John 18:13

Every thing having been done that could be to dissuade the Jews, and they refusing to take warning, He suffered Himself to be delivered into their hands: Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus.
Theophylact · 11th century

They took Him Whom they did not draw nigh to; nor understood that which is written in the Psalms, Draw nigh to Him, and be you lightened. For had they thus drawn nigh to Him, they would have taken Him, not to kill Him, but to be in their hearts. But now that they take Him the way they do, they go backward. It follows, and bound Him, Him by Whom they ought to have wished to be loosed. And perhaps there were among them some who, afterwards delivered by Him, exclaimed, you have…
Augustine · 4th century

In exultation, to show what they had done, as if they were raising a trophy.
Chrysostom · 4th century

Read all 7 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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