Category:Theophilus ben Ananus (subject)

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Theophilus ben Ananus, of the House of Annas, was the Jewish High Priest, 37-41 CE, under Roman Governor Marullus and Emperor Caligula.

Overview

Theophilus was one of the five sons of Annas to take the office of High Priest.

In 37 CE, while visiting Jerusalem, the Roman governor of Syria Vitellius appointed Theophilus ben Ananus to succeed his brother Jonathan. Theophilus remained in office under the tenure of Marullus, the Roman Governor appointed by Emperor Caligula. It was removed from office when the new Emperor Claudius granted the Kingdom of Judea to Herod Agrippa I, who appointed Simon Cantheras ben Boethus as the new High Priest.

Theophilus ben Ananus is likely to be the father of Mattathias ben Theophilus who served as High Priest, 65-68? CE. An ossuary bearing the inscription, "Johanna granddaughter of Theophilus, the High Priest" seems to provide some archaeological evidence to the family of the High Priest (see D. Barag and D. Flusser, The Ossuary of Yehohanah Granddaughter of the High Priest Theophilus, Israel Exploration Journal, 36 (1986), 39-44). Any attempt to relate Theophilus or members of his family to characters mentioned in the New Testament is purely speculative.