03.06.21 A.D. 16 – 17 Eleazar ben Ananus Appointed High Priest
The Roman legate Cyrenius (spelled Quirinius in Latin) appointed Eleazar ben Ananus (also Annas or Ananais) to the position of high priest in A.D. 6. This was shortly after the Romans deposed Archelaus, Ethnarch of Judea that the province came under direct Roman rule. As high priest, Annas had absolute power over the affairs of the temple, especially since he had the Roman army at his beck and call. As in the traditional proverb, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Ananus (a/k/a Annas) quickly used his position to attain immense wealth and prestige.