Annas

The father-in-law of Caiaphas, Annas is a high priest ready for action. His warning that Christ's "half-witted fans will get out of control" (a phrase that could as easily apply to rock fans as apostles) has the desired effect on Caiaphas, convincing him to arrange the killing of this new radical religious leader, as he did John the Baptist. Annas reassures the distraught Judas that he has done the right thing by turning Jesus in; since the mob turned against Jesus, it seems clear to Annas that Judas had "backed the right horse." The moral implications of Judas's act seem lost on Annas.

Caiaphas

Caiaphas is the High Priest of the Pharisees, or Jewish priests. He wants to get rid of Jesus, in fear that the Romans will punish all Jews for the ruckus caused by Christ's followers. The Jews are in a precarious relationship with Rome; the...