Caiaphas

Son-in-law and successor of Annas, high priest in Jerusalem. He held office from 18 to 37 CE, but the statement in John (18:13) that he was high priest ‘that year’, combined with the reference to a preliminary investigation by Annas (John 18:13–24) has suggested the possibility of the high priesthood being held for one year only at a time. But, more probably, John's meaning is that Caiaphas was the high priest ‘in that memorable year of the crucifixion’. An ossuary with an Aramaic inscription thought to mean ‘Joseph, son of Caiaphas’ was found in 1990 in the Caiaphas family tomb [[➝ tombs]] in Jerusalem; but the translation is by no means certain.