A group of individuals in charge of temple worship in Jerusalem, and regarded as leading representatives of the Jewish people, who came into conflict with Jesus Christ and plotted his death.
OT references to the chief priest
2 Chronicles 19:11 See also 2 Kings 25:18 parallel Jeremiah 52:24 Seraiah2 Chronicles 24:6, 2 Chronicles 24:11 2 Chronicles 31:10 Azariah; Ezra 7:5 Ezra was descended from Aaron the chief priest
Note that Amariah, the chief priest, will be over you in all that pertains to the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. And the Levites will serve as officers before you. Act resolutely; may the LORD be with the upright!”
The chief priests were in charge of temple worship in Jerusalem
Matthew 2:4 They were expected to pronounce on matters of Jewish law and interpretation of Scripture; Matthew 21:15 Temple discipline was their responsibility.
Jesus Christ predicted his suffering at the hands of the chief priests and elders
Matthew 16:21 parallels Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22 See also Matthew 20:18 parallel Mark 10:33
From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
The response of the chief priests to Jesus Christ
They were puzzled by Jesus Christ's teaching
Matthew 21:23 parallels Mark 11:27–28, Luke 20:1–2 See also Matthew 21:45–46 parallel Luke 20:19; John 7:32, John 7:45, John 11:47 As official representatives of the Jewish people, they feared the political repercussions of Jesus Christ's popularity.
When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
They and the elders plotted Jesus Christ's death
Matthew 26:3–5 parallel Mark 14:1 See also Matthew 26:59 parallel Mark 14:55; Matthew 27:1
At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
They collaborated with Judas
Matthew 26:14 parallels Mark 14:10, Luke 22:4; Matthew 26:47 parallels Mark 14:43, Luke 22:52, John 18:3; Matthew 27:3–6
The role of the chief priests in the trial of Jesus Christ
They made accusations against Jesus Christ
Matthew 27:12 parallel Mark 15:3; Luke 22:66, Luke 23:10
They persuaded the crowd against Jesus Christ
Matthew 27:20; Luke 23:4, Luke 23:13; John 19:6
They mocked Jesus Christ
Matthew 27:41 parallel Mark 15:31
They handed Jesus Christ over to Pilate
Mark 15:10; Luke 24:20; John 18:35
They persuaded Pilate to have the tomb guarded
They bribed the soldiers
They rejected Jesus Christ as king
The chief priests' attempt to prevent the preaching of the gospel
By silencing the apostles
By authorising Paul to arrest believers
Acts 9:14, Acts 9:21, Acts 26:10, Acts 26:12
The involvement of the chief priests in the arrest and trial of Paul
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.