Who was Caiaphas?

• A. A Roman governor.
• B. The Jewish High Priest who presided over Jesus' trial.
• C. One of Jesus' apostles.
• D. A scribe who defended Jesus.

Answer: (B)

Caiaphas was the Jewish High Priest who presided over Jesus' trial. In Roman-ruled Judea, the high priest led the temple leadership and the Sanhedrin, the council that gathered to examine Jesus. In the gospel accounts, Caiaphas plays the central role in the trial scene, urging the council to condemn Jesus and presenting him to the Roman authorities as a threat to religious stability. Because the Sanhedrin lacked authority to execute, the case moves to the Roman governor, who ultimately approves the crucifixion. This highlights how religious leadership and Roman power intersected in the events surrounding Jesus’ death, a pivotal moment in salvation history.

Caiaphas is not a Roman governor like Pontius Pilate, nor an apostle, nor a scribe who defended Jesus, which is why those descriptions don’t fit his role.