I Appeal To Caesar!

Caiaphas: John 11:49-52; 18:13, 14, 24; Acts 4:1-22. For more information on Caiaphas see: F. F. Bruce, New Testament History, pp. 34, 64- 65, 196-197, 205, 220, 225; also, P. 5 “Annas is mentioned four times as ‘high priest’ (Luke 3:2; John 18:13, 24; Acts 4:6) and is always linked to Caiaphas. Josephus, the Jewish historian, mentions him as High Priest in Jerusalem from around AD 6 to AD 15 ( Ants. XVIII.ii).” The Complete Who’s Who in the Bible, p. 49. Also, this comment about Caiaphas: “His father-in-law Annas, who was High- Priest before him, seems to have maintained considerable influence throughout the years in which Caiaphas was High Priest. This may account for the strange reference in Luke 3:2 to the ‘high priesthood’ (singular) of Annas and Caiaphas. It probably reflects the reality of the political situation, in which Annas may still have been regarded as the power behind the ‘throne’ (emphasis added) .” Who’s Who, p. 94. P. 6 Caiaphas’ inward torture results from an insidious greed and lack of godly fear. He was more afraid of man, and jealous of losing his position. His inflated ego was actually an indication of low self-worth. His rejection and murder of Jesus and his inward rage, require spiritual help, not further murderous activity! He was jealous of having a dead Jesus steal his own crowd appeal. P. 7 Cleansing of the Temple. Jesus twice “cleansed” the Temple; i.e., he stopped the exchanging of money and the unholy traffic and activity taking place (John 2:13-17 and Luke 19:45-46). Not all New Testament scholars agree that Jesus felt impelled on two occasions to express his indignation. See, A Harmony of the Four Gospels by Orville E. Daniel, p. 36 and p. 153. Maurice Meschler makes these interesting comments: “On entering the sacred edifice our Saviour perceived a great disorder. In the forecourt of the Gentiles, cattle, flour, oil, and other necessaries for the Paschal services were being sold; and at the exchange tables foreign money was being changed for coin of the country and Temple sicles (John 2:14). Our Lord wished to put a stop to this flagrant abuse. What, then, did He wish to abolish? Not the traffic itself, which was necessary, but its taking place in the forecourt of the Temple (John 2:16). It was a humiliation and an annoyance for the Gentiles that their place of worship should be thus misused, and a great misconception of God’s merciful