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Having arrested them, and charged them not to speak henceforth to any man in the
name of "Jesus", the Sanhedrin released the Apostles. But their continued activity in the
Temple filled the high priest and his associates with anger:
"Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the
Sadducees) and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put
them in the common prison" (Acts 5: 17, 18).
The miraculous escape of the Apostles during the night, when the angel of the Lord
opened the prison doors, caused great perplexity to these Sadducees, and it seems that it
was largely due to the wisdom of Gamaliel, a Pharisee, that the Apostles, having again
been brought before the Sanhedrin, were delivered on this occasion (Acts 5: 19-40). It is
refreshing to read, just a few verses later, and in contrast to this, that "A great company of
the priests were obedient to the faith" (Acts 6: 7).
Two words in particular are used in the N.T. in connection with the priesthood. They
are heireus, translated "high priest", and "priest", and archiereus, translated "chief
priest", "high priest", and "chief of the priests". The one reference where the word
hiereus is translated "high priest" (Acts 5: 24) is omitted by the best texts.
According to the Grimm-Thayer Lexicon, hiereus refers to "a priest; one who offers
sacrifices and in general is busied with sacred rites". Apart from its usage in the Gospels
and Acts, of the priests living at that time, it is used in Hebrews in reference to Christ,
Melchizedek and the Levitical priesthood of the O.T. It is used in the Book of
Revelation, of believers.
Archiereus, a word used many times in the Gospels, Acts and the Book of Hebrews,
but never outside of those books, is explained in the Grimm-Thayer Lexicon thus:
"(1). He who above all others was honoured with the title priest, the chief of the
priests . . . . . (2). The plural archiereis . . . . . comprises, in addition to the one actually
holding the high priestly office, both those who had previously discharged it and although
deposed continued to have great power in the state . . . . . as well as the members of the
families from which high priests were created, provided they had much influence in
public affairs."
The word is used in Hebrews particularly in reference to Christ.
The situation with respect to the high priesthood at the time of Christ, has caused
some consternation among Bible students. There can be no doubt that, at the time of the
Lord's trial, Caiaphas was high priest (Matt. 26: 57; John 18: 13, 24), and yet, in
Acts 4: 6, Annas is called the high priest, while Caiaphas is given no title. In addition to
this (in Luke 3: 2, R.V.) there is mention of "the high priesthood of Annas and
Caiaphas", with reference to the time when "the word of God came unto John the son of
Zacharias". The Companion Bible note on this last passage is:
"Caiaphas was the high priest as successor of Aaron; while Annas was the Nasi, or
head of the Sanhedrin (as successor of Moses), and thus associated with Caiaphas in
government."