John 18:13

John 18:13, in plain English

They take Jesus first to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest. He's the behind-the-scenes power player.

Why it's here

Annas may not have the official title anymore, but he still runs things. Taking Jesus to him first shows who's really pulling the strings.

Who's speaking

John describes the first stop after arrest.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus is led to Annas, the political puppet master. The formal trial hasn't even started, and already the corruption is evident—this is a backroom hearing before the real show trial.

The scholarly reading

Jesus is first brought to Annas, the former high priest and father-in-law of the current high priest Caiaphas, for a preliminary hearing.

Language and setting

Annas served as high priest from AD 6-15 and retained enormous political influence. This preliminary examination before Annas is unique to John's Gospel and reveals the behind-the-scenes power dynamics of the Jewish leadership.

Voice

The narrator describes Jesus' first hearing.

Significance

The bound Jesus is brought to the real power broker: Annas. Though Caiaphas holds the official title, Annas pulls the strings. Jesus faces the political machinery that has been plotting His death.

11“Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

12Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.

13They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people.

15Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.

Read all of John 18 — Judas arrives with torches and soldiers. Jesus steps forward and identifies himself, and the entire cohort falls to the ground.