Ananias ben Nebedeus (died 66 AD) was the High Priest of Israel from 47 to 52 AD, succeeding Josephus ben Camydus and preceding Jonathan.
Biography[]
Ananias ben Nebedeus was a member of the Sanhedrin before becoming the High Priest of Israel in 47 AD, and he was known as a violent, haughty, gluttonous, and rapacious man who was looked up to by the Jews. After Saint Paul was placed on trial and declared that he had fulfilled his duty to God in all good conscience, Ananias had those standing near Paul strike him across the mouth. However, Paul said that Ananias had violated the law by commanding him to be struck, and Paul said that he stood on trial as a member of the Pharisees; this led to a violent dispute between the Pharisees (who believed in an afterlife) and Sadducees (who did not believe) of the Sanhedrin. The Pharisees saw nothing wrong with Paul, and this led to a violent brawl; Ananias had the troops take Paul to the barracks as the brawl escalated. In 52 AD, he was brought to Rome for trial after he was accused of inciting violence, but he was acquitted by Emperor Claudius. A friend of the Romans, Ananias was murdered by the Jewish people at the beginning of the First Jewish-Roman War in 66 AD.