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First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time.
John 18:13 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
  • KJV And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
  • BSB They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
  • ESV First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
  • NKJV And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.
  • NASB and brought Him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Jesus is led first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. An informal hearing before the powerful Annas begins.

Overview

Annas had been high priest and remained highly influential; his son-in-law Caiaphas held the office at the time. John records this preliminary examination before Annas, which the other Gospels pass over. The detail roots the narrative in real history and shows the entangled religious power that orchestrated Jesus' condemnation.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 6

  • John 18:24Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.
  • Matt 26:3Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.
  • Matt 26:57Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
  • Luke 3:2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
  • John 11:51Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
  • Acts 4:6Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 18:13YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.

How John 18:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.