# high priest

## Related Ideas:

high priesthood

## 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](../names/annas.md), [Caiaphas](../names/caiaphas.md), [chief priests](../other/chiefpriests.md), [priest](../kt/priest.md), [temple](../kt/temple.md))

## Bible References:

* [Acts 05:27](rc://en/tn/help/act/05/27)
* [Acts 07:01](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/01)
* [Acts 09:01](rc://en/tn/help/act/09/01)
* [Exodus 30:10](rc://en/tn/help/exo/30/10)
* [Hebrews 06:19-20](rc://en/tn/help/heb/06/19)
* [Leviticus 16:32](rc://en/tn/help/lev/16/32)
* [Luke 03:02](rc://en/tn/help/luk/03/02)
* [Mark 02:25-26](rc://en/tn/help/mrk/02/25)
* [Matthew 26:3-5](rc://en/tn/help/mat/26/03)
* [Matthew 26:51-54](rc://en/tn/help/mat/26/51)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[13:08](rc://en/tn/help/obs/13/08)__ No one could enter the room behind the curtain except the __high priest__, because God lived there.
* __[21:07](rc://en/tn/help/obs/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](rc://en/tn/help/obs/38/03)__ The Jewish leaders, led by the __high priest__, paid Judas thirty silver coins to betray Jesus.
* __[39:01](rc://en/tn/help/obs/39/01)__ The soldiers led Jesus to the house of the __high priest__ in order for the __high priest__ to question him.
* __[39:03](rc://en/tn/help/obs/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](rc://en/tn/help/obs/44/07)__ The next day, the Jewish leaders brought Peter and John to the __high priest__ and the other religious leaders.
* __[45:02](rc://en/tn/help/obs/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](rc://en/tn/help/obs/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](rc://en/tn/help/obs/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

## Forms Found in the English ULB:

high priest, high priesthood, high priests


