John: a herald’s voice crying, “Make ready the way. All will see God’s salvation.

 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness;  3 and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;  6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness;

 3 and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of

repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

The 15 th year of Tiberius Caesar was 29 A.D. John the Baptist’s ministry also began in the time of Annas and Caiaphas. Annas was the high priest from 6-15 A.D. until he was removed from that position by the Romans who then gave it to his son-in-law Caiaphas. The position as high priest dates back to Aaron about 1657 B.C. and moves forward through 83 men until Phannias in 70 A.D. The position was held for life thus when the Roman political government chose to remove Annas from the religious position the Jews accepted Caiaphas but looked to Annas as the rightful heir to the position. After Jesus’arrest, Jesus wasn’t taken to Caiaphas for his pretrial hearing but he was instead taken to the man the Jews viewed as the high priest, Annas (Jn. 18:13).

The 15 th year of Tiberius Caesar was 29 A.D.

John the Baptist’s ministry also began in the time of Annas and Caiaphas.

Annas was the high priest from 6-15 A.D. until he was removed from that position by the Romans who then gave it to his son-in-law Caiaphas.

The position as high priest dates back to Aaron about 1657 B.C. and moves forward through 83 men until Phannias in 70 A.D.

The position was held for life thus when the Roman political government chose to remove Annas from the religious position the Jews accepted Caiaphas but looked to Annas as the rightful heir to the position.

After Jesus’arrest, Jesus wasn’t taken to Caiaphas for his pretrial hearing but he was instead taken to the man the Jews viewed as the high priest, Annas (Jn. 18:13).

Annas’ Income Even the way in which Annas made his money was disgraceful. In the Courtyard of the Gentiles there were the sellers of animals for the sacrifices, the same sellers that Jesus had driven out. They were not traders; they were extortioners. Every animal offered in the Temple had to be without spot or blemish. There were inspectors to verify the animals met their high standards. If a victim was bought outside the Temple it was certain that a flaw would be found. The worshipper was then directed to buy at the Temple booths where the victims had already been examined and where there was no risk of rejection. That would have been convenient and helpful except for one thing.

Even the way in which Annas made his money was disgraceful.

In the Courtyard of the Gentiles there were the sellers of animals for the sacrifices, the same sellers that Jesus had driven out.

They were not traders; they were extortioners. Every animal offered in the Temple had to be without spot or blemish.

There were inspectors to

verify the animals met their high standards.

If a victim was bought outside the Temple it was certain that a flaw would be found.

The worshipper was then directed to buy at the Temple booths where the victims had already been examined and where there was no risk of rejection.

That would have been convenient and helpful except for one thing.

Just Business Outside the Temple a pair of doves could cost as little as 4 cents; inside they could cost as much as 75 cents. The whole business was sheer exploitation; and the shops where the Temple victims were sold were called The Bazaars of Annas. They were the property of the family of Annas; it was through the exploitation of the worshippers, that Annas had accumulated a fortune. The Jewish Talmud even tells us the Jews hated the household of Annas. Now we can see why Annas arranged that Jesus be brought to him first . Jesus was a threat to his business.

Outside the Temple a pair of doves could cost as little as 4 cents; inside they could cost as much as 75 cents.

The whole business was sheer exploitation; and the shops where the Temple victims were sold were called The Bazaars of Annas.

They were the property of the family of Annas; it was through the exploitation of the worshippers, that

Annas had accumulated a fortune.

The Jewish Talmud even tells us the Jews hated the household of Annas.

Now we can see why Annas arranged that Jesus be brought to him first .

Jesus was a threat to his business.

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