Annas (High Priest living at the time of the New Testament)

Luke names Annas and Caiaphas together as if there were two high priests at once (3:2), which sounds like an error until Josephus explains why: Rome deposed and replaced high priests on its own schedule through this whole period, and Annas (Ananus), long out of office, still held the real influence as Caiaphas's father-in-law.

Was high priest A.D. 6 to 15. In A.D. 25 Caiaphas, who had married the daughter of Annas (John 18:13), was raised to that office, and probably Annas was now made president of the Sanhedrim, or deputy or coadjutor of the high priest, and thus was also called high priest along with Caiaphas (Luke 3:2). By the Mosaic law the high-priesthood was held for life (Num. 3:10); and although Annas had been deposed by the Roman procurator, the Jews may still have regarded him as legally the high priest. Our Lord was first brought before Annas, and after a brief questioning of him (John 18:19-23) was sent to Caiaphas, when some members of the Sanhedrim had met, and the first trial of Jesus took place (Matt. 26:57-68). This examination of our Lord before Annas is recorded only by John. Annas was president of the Sanhedrim before which Peter and John were brought (Acts 4:6).