Joseph Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest from 18-36 AD, played a central role in the New Testament plot to kill Jesus. He accused Jesus of blasphemy, and then sent him to Pilate to be executed. According to (Acts 5), the high priest continued to persecute the Church after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Is there proof outside of the Bible that this high priest really existed?
Caiaphas In The Scriptures
From the following Scriptures we learn how involved Caiaphas was in the events that led to the death of Jesus, and the persecution of the Christians. The high priest mentioned in Mark and Acts is also referring to Caiaphas.
(Mathew 26:3-4) Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.
(John 18:12-14) Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
(Mark 14:60-64) Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you”? But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One”? I am, said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven”. The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
(Acts 5:27-28) The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood”.
The Caiaphas Ossuary
The Caiaphas Ossuary was discovered by construction workers in November of 1990 in a south Jerusalem cave. The ossuary was one of twelve bone boxes found in the burial cave. This particular elaborate box had the name “Joseph, son of Caiaphas” inscribed on it. Inside were the bones of a 60-year-old male. Many believe this is probably the bones of Caiaphas. There are some scholars who have expressed doubts about it being the same Caiaphas that was the high priest.
Additional Proof
The Jewish historian Josephus provides us with additional proof outside of the Bible for the existence of Caiaphas. Included in the 1st century historians writings about Caiaphas are the time period for which he was high priest. In addition to this was the mentioning that he became the high priest at a very unstable and chaotic time.
The Mariam Ossuary
A third piece of evidence for the existence of Caiaphas the High Priest is the Mariam Ossuary. Archaeologists announced in June of 2011 that they had recovered an ossuary that had been stolen from a tomb in the Valley of Elah. The inscription on it reads “Miriam, daughter of Yeshua, son of Caiaphas, Priest of Ma’aziah from Beth Imra”. The Israel Antiquities Authority has declared it to be authentic. Miriam is believed to be the granddaughter of the high priest.
In Conclusion
It is always interesting to find out how much evidence that archaeology and historians provide us with as verification for the Bible. A certain degree of faith will always be needed when it comes to being a Christian. Even so, there is more than enough proof for God and the Bible that a person doesn’t need blind faith to believe.
