The first High Priest was Yahuah of Hosts. He appeared to Moses in Northwest Saudi Arabia. That is when Moses became High Priest. He then made Aaron High Priest. This stayed in their family until the Sanhedrin appointed who was High Priest. But that changed when the Romans appointed
Ananias in a newly formed Roman province of Judea. Joseph Ben Caiaphas was appointed by
Valerius Gratus, the fourth Roman Governor of Judea after Ananias was removed from office..
VALERIUS GRATUS, (15–26 CE), appointed by the emperor Tiberius, had a history of reappointing High Priests for Money. Joseph Ben Caiaphas was in office for about 8 years when Pontius Pilate became Governor of Judea.
The duties of Joseph Ben Caiaphas was controlling the Temple treasury, managing the Temple police and other personnel, performing religious rituals and president of the Sanhedrin. Joseph Ben Caiaphas is thought to be a member of the Sadducees. They were the wealthy Jewish upper class not believing in a resurrection.
Here comes Yahusha Hamashia saying, "Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Elohiym."
Sadducees refused to go beyond the written Torah, the first five books of today's Bible. This is to say they cut out the prophecy of Yahuah Elohiym's Word. They also denied the immortality of the soul and the bodily resurrection after death. But there they were, in charge of faith in Yahuah Elohiym but not having faith in Yahuah Elohiym themselves.
Here comes Yahusha Hamashia saying, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.". But let's back up a little and here the confrontation between John the Baptist and the men of Joseph Ben Caiaphas.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that Elohiym is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
First off John identified them as Reptilian. Today we associate this as the Reptilian Brain. What triggers this is the prospect of gaining or losing money, power, or social status. This part of the brain controls the body's vital functions such as heart rate, breathing, body temperature and balance.
Next John brings up the resurrection. Elohiym can raise up children of Abraham from nothing. Thirdly John brings up the destruction of the Temple system. The threshing floor is the Temple Mount. During a time yet to come, I believe there will be a third temple. It is this temple that an abomination will be set up in. The Dome of the Rock is not an abomination. It is a covering of the place where Abraham sacrificed a ram, saving his son from death. But when Yahusha Hamashia returns, He will build a House of Elohiym. This is to say, another Joseph Ben Caiaphas, another destruction of the Temple is about to happen. Unquenchable fire in today's world is a nuclear event. This will fulfill John the Baptist's prophecy. But the question is, what is the winnowing fan? The winnowing fan is a basket that scoops up grain to be tossed up into the air. The grain is taken away into His storehouse. What ever remains will be burned. John the Baptist was the Last Old Testament Prophet.
Early on in Yahusha Hamashia's ministry, He drove out the money changers at the Temple.
Yahusha said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a House of Merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
Yahusha answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”
But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Yahusha had said.
This verbal exchange showed the ignorance of Joseph Ben Caiaphas. The Resurrection was not in their vocabulary. The truth of Psalm 69 was not known to Caiaphas.
Yahusha said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”.
He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”.
Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”. But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Yahusha had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
Afterward Yahusha found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."
The man departed and told the Jews that it was Yahusha who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Yahusha, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
But Yahusha answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
Notice how Joseph Ben Caiaphas' men ignored the healing and went straight to the disregard of the High Priest's rules. Notice how quickly they wanted Yahusha dead for healing a man on the Sabbath. It's like Joseph Ben Caiaphas is saying, you don't come to the Temple Mount for healing, you come here to obey me.
John 18
When Yahusha had spoken these words, he went with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and His disciples. Judas who betrayed Him, knew the place: for Yahusha often resorted there with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, went there with lanterns, torches and weapons. Yahusha knew all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom do you seek.
They answered him, "Yahusha of Nazareth."
Yahusha said unto them, "I am He. "
Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, Whom do you seek? They said, Yahusha of Nazareth.
Yahusha answered, I have told you that I am He: if therefore you seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which He spoke, Of them which you gave me have I lost none.
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Yahusha unto Peter, Put away your sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, and led Him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
And Simon Peter followed Yahusha, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Yahusha into the palace of the high priest.
But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spoke unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
Then said the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Are you not also one of this man's disciples? He said, I am not. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
The high priest then asked Yahusha of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
Yahusha answered him, I speek openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why do you ask me? Ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
When He had spoken this, one of the officers which stood by struck Yahusha with the palm of his hand, saying, YOU ANSWER the High Priest?
Yahusha answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why do you strike me?
Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Are you not also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, said, Didn't I see you in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crowd.
Then they led Yahusha from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusations do you bring against this man?
They answered and said unto him, If he were not a criminal, we would not have delivered him up unto you.
Then said Pilate unto them, You take Him, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
That the saying of might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying what death he should die.
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Yahusha, and said unto him, Are you the King of the Jews?
Yahusha answered him, Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you unto me: what have you done?
Yahusha answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from here.
Pilate therefore said unto him, Are you a king then? Yahusha answered, you said that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.
Pilate said unto him, What is truth? When he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But you have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will you therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
This is the end of John 18. What we see hear is that Joseph Ben Caiaphas authorized bribery money out of the Temple funds. He also sent Pharisees to arrest Yahusha probably expecting bloodshed when his friends was Sadducees. As predicted, the arresting group of men was knocked over. Peter used his sword. But Yahusha Hamashia let Himself be arrested.
Annas was the High Priest before Joseph Ben Caiaphas. Annas was also the father in law to Caiaphas. This is to say there was a conspiracy by the Sadducees to protect the Roman appointed High Priest system that started with Annas. Joseph Ben Caiaphas wanted to debate with Yahusha in a controlled setting where he could manipulate the win for himself. Yahusha avoided it, only to suffer assault and battery by Joseph Ben Caiaphas through his Temple guard. Then Joseph Ben Caiaphas took Yahusha Hamashia to Pontius Pilate so quickly that a formal charge under Roman Law was forgotten. But Pontius Pilate was obligated to follow the standing relationship he had with Joseph Ben Caiaphas, not necessarily the Jewish religion.
But the Blood of Yahusha Hamashia wasn't enough for Joseph Ben Caiaphas. About four years later, the order was given to stone the Apostle Steven. He was only 29 years old when he was stoned to death.
What is interesting is the story of Saul who became Paul. Joseph Ben Caiaphas authorized Saul to kill men and women of Damascus Syria who have faith in Yahusha Hamashia. Then there is Herod.
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Acts 12:1-4
The question is, what was the relationship between Herod and Joseph Ben Caiaphas? It is thought that both were Sadducees.
There are traditional stories about how Joseph of Arimathea, Mary Magdalene, her sister Martha and brother Lazarus was targeted by Joseph Ben Caiaphas. This was done in secret to avoid backlash from the Romans and people of Judea. In a boat towed into the Mediterranean Sea without sails, oar or rudder, they were left to drift. Others included Mary Jacobe, mother of James the Less, the sister of the Virgin Mary, Mary Salome, mother of the apostles James and John, Maximin, one of the seventy disciples of Christ, Cedonius, the blind man who was miraculously healed by Yahusha, Marcelle, Martha's servant, and Sara, maid of the two Marys. This list varies a bit from different articles. Romans had looted Phoenician temples and dissolved the government. The question remains, was it a Phoenician ship that towed the prison boat? Joseph of Arimathea was into shipping tin from Britton, if he had connections, so did Joseph Ben Caiaphas.
The last question is, how did Joseph Ben Caiaphas die? It is said that Joseph of Arimathea's body was carried by six Kings. But Caiaphas was much different.
I quote, "Caiaphas and Pilate were dismissed from office by Syrian governor, Vitellius, according to Jewish historian Josephus. It seems likely that the cause of their dismissal was growing public unhappiness with their close cooperation."
But what was the real reason? I believe it was the lack of justice. With Joseph of Arimathea missing along with others missing or put to death outside of Roman Law, the Lawlessness of Judea must be stopped according to Roman Law.
The year was 36 when these two leaders was removed from office. It is believed that Pontius Pilate committed suicide in France after being recalled to Rome. As for Joseph Ben Caiaphas, we look at Mark 14:61-62
But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Yahusha said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
The question is, did he see the same thing Steven saw, or was it on the island of Crete as a old man ready to die? We know the Apostle Paul and the Apostle John seen Yahusha Hamashia. I believe after the political power was removed from Joseph Ben Caiaphas, the evil spell that blinded him was broken.
What is interesting is that the first Jewish–Roman War was in (66–73 CE). But the invasion started in 63 CE. Joseph Ben Caiaphas died 66 CE. This leaves about the same amount of time Yahusha Hamashia's ministry lasted. By Yahusha's prophecy, Joseph Ben Caiaphas was saved by believing in Yahusha Hamashia as the Lamb of Elohiym. When Joseph Ben Caiaphas was placed in his tomb, the Jewish Roman war began.
