Acts 4:6 ‘Annas the high priest was the

Acts 4:6

‘Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family.’

Annas the high priest: he had probably been appointed high priest by the ruler Quirinius. His name means ‘grace of God’.

Caiaphas, his name means ‘searcher’ and remarkably and unknowingly prophesied the death of Jesus as an act of God’s grace during the trial of Jesus.

John, his name means ‘loved’. Most probably the one who replaced Caiaphas as the next high priest.

Alexander: not much is known about him.
Other men: men of the household of the high priest.

These gathered in Jerusalem to discuss the claims that Jesus who they had seen crucified was apparently alive.
Jesus has always attracted discussion on who he is.

On this day the grace of God, the searcher, the loved and the unknowns gathered.

Dear Lord
May this Christmas see the ‘grace of God’ fall upon those who ‘seek’ because you ‘love’ the whole world even the ‘unknowns’ within it.