ANNAS (Ānānō: corresponds to Heb. Hānan[jah]). - Name of two Jewish high priests of the 1st century A.D.
1) A. (Ánano) I is called 'Αννάς in the New Testament, 'Ανανός by Flavius Josephus. Son of Seth, elected pontiff by the Roman governor Quirinius around 6 A.D., he was replaced around 15 by Ishmael, son of Fabi, appointed by the procurator Valerius Gratus. Even after his deposition he exercised great influence through his wealth and saw five of his sons and a son-in-law, Caiaphas, succeed him in the high priesthood. He died at a very old age. His tomb at the time of the siege of Jerusalem was located to the west of the city (cf. Flavius Josephus, Antiq. Ind., XVIII, 2, 1-2; XX, 9, 1; Bell. Ind., V, 12, 2).
The rabbinic texts describe him as avaricious and cunning. During the public life of Jesus he was still considered high priest, not only in honor but also in fact, perhaps because he was regarded as such by right. Lk. 3, 2, lists him together with Caiaphas; Jn. 18, 13, notes that Jesus, having been arrested, was brought "first to A." and implies that the first interrogation was conducted by him (ibid. 18, 19-24). He presides over the sanhedrin together with Caiaphas (Acts 4, 6). It is debated whether the high priest of Acts 7, 1 and 9, 1 is A. or Caiaphas.
2) A. (Ánano) II, Gk. 'Ανανός (Flavius Josephus), was the fifth son of the preceding. After the death of the proconsul Festus, before the arrival of the procurator Albinus (62) "he assembled the sanhedrin of the Jews, and citing before it the brother of Jesus called the Christ, whose name was James, and certain others under the accusation of being transgressors of the Law, he condemned them to be stoned" (Flavius Josephus, Antiq. Ind., XX, 9, 1). Accused before Albinus, who was on a journey, and before Agrippa II, who three months earlier had conferred the high priesthood upon him, he was deposed by the latter. He was killed by the Idumeans during the Jewish war.
Bibliography3 works
Pietro De Ambrozzi