Ananias son of Nedebeus (Hebrew: חנניה בן נדבאי ''Ḥananyá ben Nadváy'' "…(son of) the philanthropist") was a high priest who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, presided during the trials of the apostle Paul at

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

( Acts 23:2) and Caesarea ( Acts 24:1).

Josephus Flavius Josephus (; grc-gre, Ἰώσηπος, ; 37 – 100) was a first-century Romano-Jewish historian and military leader, best known for '' The Jewish War'', who was born in Jerusalem—then part of Roman Judea—to a father of priestly ...

, ''Antiquities'' xx. 5. 2, called him "Ananias ben Nebedeus". He officiated as high priest from about AD 47 to 52. A. C. Hervey described him as "a violent, haughty, gluttonous, and rapacious man, and yet looked up to by the Jews".

Biblical account

In the narrative of the Acts of the Apostles, Paul was called to appear before the Jewish Sanhedrin, on the instructions of the commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem. Ananias heard Paul's opening defense and commanded those who stood by him "to strike him on the mouth". Paul described him as a "whitewashed wall" ( gr, τοιχε κεκονιαμενε) and testified that God would strike Ananias for this unlawful act. Those who stood by accused Paul of reviling or insulting the High Priest, to which Paul replied that he did not know that he (or it) was the High Priest. Seeing that there were both Pharisees and Sadducees on the Sanhedrin (see for the whole context):

But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!" (Acts 23:6, NKJV)

Barker commented "It is not evident how it was that Paul failed to know the thing that he said he did not know - whether this were that Ananias was the high priest, or whether it were that it was Ananias who uttered the command to smite him on the mouth".

Gill A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...

identified

Joshua ben Gamla Joshua ben Gamla (), also called Jesus the son of Gamala (), was a Jewish high priest in about 64-65 CE. He was killed during the First Jewish–Roman War. While the Talmud refers to Joshua ben Gamla, the earlier Greek works of Josephus Flavius ...

(fl. c.64–65 CE) as the reigning high priest during Paul's trial, for one possible explanation of the latter's remark. Quadratus, governor of Syria, accused Ananias of being responsible for acts of violence. Ananias was sent to

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

for trial (52 CE), but was acquitted by the emperor Claudius. He continued to officiate as high priest until 58 CE. Jewish Encyclopedia
''Ananias son of Nebedeus''
/ref> Being a friend of the Romans, Ananias was murdered by the people at the beginning of the

First Jewish-Roman War First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

. His son

Eliezar ben Hanania Eleazar ben Hanania ( he, אלעזר בן חנניה; grc, Ἐλεάζαρος υἱὸς Ἀνανία) was a Jewish leader during the Great Revolt of Judea. Eleazar was the son of the High Priest Hanania ben Nedebai and hence a political figur ...

was one of the leaders of the

Great Revolt of Judea Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

References

{{Acts of the Apostles 1st-century High Priests of Israel People in Acts of the Apostles Religious leaders of the Roman Empire Sanhedrin

Biblical account

See also

References