# high priest #

## Definition: ##

The term "high priest" refers to a special priest who was appointed to serve for one year as the leader of all the other Israelite priests. 

* The high priest had special responsibilities. He was the only one who was permitted to go into the most holy part of the temple to offer a special sacrifice once a year.
* The Israelites had many priests, but only one high priest at a time.
* When Jesus was being arrested, Caiaphas was the official high priest. Caiphas' father-in-law Annas is also mentioned sometimes because he was a former high priest who probably still had power and authority over the people.

## Translation Suggestions: ##

* "High priest" could be translated as "supreme priest" or "highest ranking priest."
* Make sure this term is translated differently from the term "chief priest."

(See also: [Annas](../other/annas.md), [Caiaphas](../other/caiaphas.md), [chief priests](../other/chiefpriests.md), [priest](../kt/priest.md), [temple](../kt/temple.md))

## Bible References: ##

* [Acts 05:26-28](en/tn/act/help/05/26)
* [Acts 07:1-3](en/tn/act/help/07/01)
* [Acts 09:1-2](en/tn/act/help/09/01)
* [Exodus 30:10](en/tn/exo/help/30/10)
* [Hebrews 06:19-20](en/tn/heb/help/06/19)
* [Leviticus 16:32-33](en/tn/lev/help/16/32)
* [Luke 03:1-2](en/tn/luk/help/03/01)
* [Mark 02:25-26](en/tn/mrk/help/02/25)
* [Matthew 26:3-5](en/tn/mat/help/26/03)
* [Matthew 26:51-54](en/tn/mat/help/26/51)

## Examples from the Bible stories: ##

* __[13:08](en/tn/obs/help/13/08)__ No one could enter the room behind the curtain except the __high priest__, because God lived there.
* __[21:07](en/tn/obs/help/21/07)__ The Messiah who would come would be the perfect __high priest__  who would offer himself as a perfect sacrifice to God.
* __[38:03](en/tn/obs/help/38/03)__ The Jewish leaders, led by the __high priest__, paid Judas thirty silver coins to betray Jesus.
* __[39:01](en/tn/obs/help/39/01)__ The soldiers led Jesus to the house of the __high priest__  in order for the __high priest__  to question him.
* __[39:03](en/tn/obs/help/39/03)__ Finally, the __high priest__  looked directly at Jesus and said, "Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of the living God?"
* __[44:07](en/tn/obs/help/44/07)__ The next day, the Jewish leaders brought Peter and John to the __high priest__  and the other religious leaders.
* __[45:02](en/tn/obs/help/45/02)__ So the religious leaders arrested Stephen and brought him to the __high priest__  and the other leaders of the Jews, where more false witnesses lied about Stephen.
* __[46:01](en/tn/obs/help/46/01)__ The __high priest__  gave Saul permission to go to the city of Damascus to arrest Christians there and bring them back to Jerusalem.
* __[48:06](en/tn/obs/help/48/06)__ Jesus is the Great __High Priest__. Unlike other priests, he offered himself as the only sacrifice that could to take away the sin of all the people in the world. Jesus was the perfect __high priest__  because he took the punishment for every sin that anyone has ever committed.

## Word Data:##

* Strong's: H7218 H1419 H3548 G748 G749