Josephus also refers to Ananus in Antiquities 20.9.1; and a Jesus ben Ananais, though Jesus ben Ananais does not appear to be listed anywhere as one of the five sons of Annas/Ananus.
The alleged chronology of the NT narratives don't fit with the Annas's alleged history, however, with Annas supposedly being relieved of his priesthood ~15 CE.
In referring to John the Baptist, Luke 3.2 says
- "during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness."
John 18 has Jesus was first brought before Annas
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
19 Meanwhile, the high priest [Annas, aka Ananus] questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
- <snip>
24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
- <snip>
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
- <snip>
30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?
Matt. 26:57-68 refers to Caiaphas, the teachers of the law and the elders, the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin
When Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4, Annas & Caiaphas also feature -
As noted above; Annas is only supposed to have been a High Priest until 15CE (?)Acts 4 (NIV)
1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Could the NT writers have used the then historical narratives of Annas as a basis for their their narratives?
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