HOUSE OF CAIAPHAS

These steps are at the House of Caiaphas, and it is said that these are the ones over which Jesus walked to be tried before Caiaphas the night before His crucifixion.  It was here that Peter denied the Lord three times, and the rooster crowed as Jesus predicted.  Very often when we visit this site, we can literally hear a rooster crow from the yards of those living by this very site.  It dramatizes the effect of the Gospel story.  A church by the name of St. Peter in Gallicantu commemorating the crowing of the rooster at Peter’s denial of Christ is built over the House of Caiaphas who was son-in-law of Annas, high priest in Jerusalem. Caiaphas became his successor as high priest and presided at a hearing of Jesus before the crucifixion. It was Caiaphas who made the now famous statement which led to the Crucifixion of Jesus: "It is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people." (John 11:50) It is situated half way down the slope between Mt. Zion and the Pool of Siloam. Jesus was led from the house of Annas to the house of Caiaphas before being taken to the judgment hall of Pilate. There are some stairs up to the house, where they say that Peter was, when he made his denial of the Lord (John 18:25-26). Even the skeptical view this place in awe and reverence. Jesus spent the night here as it was the scene of His first trial or hearing. Peter denied His Lord three times before the rooster crowed twice. (When you visit this site, a rooster crowing in the Arab settlement nearby is a common sound.) There is a stone mill here, a dungeon, a courtyard, and quarters for servants to add to the setting of the steps that Jesus must have walked over at the left side of the church. The site was definitely within the walls of Jerusalem.