DID YOU KNOW?

What did mean when he said to go the second mile? ˇ In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Cyrene to carry Jesus’ torture stake to Jesus recommended: “If someone un- the site of his execution. (Matthew 27: der authority impresses you into service 32) Such impositions were oppressive, for a mile, go with him two miles.” highly unpopular, and bitterly resented (Matthew 5:41) Jesus’ listeners likely by the Jews. recognized that statement as a refer- Just how far citizens could be com- ence to compulsory service, which an pelled to carry a load is unknown. It is authority could demand from citizens. hard to imagine, though, that they In the first century C.E., Israel was oc- would have been willing to go any far- cupied by the Romans. They did not ther than strictly required. So when Je- hesitate to press men or animals into sus urged his listeners to go the second service or to commandeer anything mile, so to speak, he was telling them to else they considered necessary in order perform without resentment those ser- to expedite official business. For exam- vices that authorities legitimately de- ple, Roman soldiers obliged Simon of manded.—Mark 12:17.

Who was the mentioned in the accounts? ˇ At the time of Jesus’ trial, Annas (A- be deposed by them. Historian Flavius nanus) was described as a “chief priest.” reports that , the Ro- (Luke3:2;John18:13;Acts4:6)Hewas, man governor of Syria, removed a cer- in fact, the father-in-law of Israel’s high tain Joazar from the high priesthood in priest, , and he himself had about 6 or 7 C.E. and appointed Annas served as high priest from about 6 or to the office. It seems, though, that 7 C.E. until about 15 C.E., when he was these pagan rulers took care to select the removed from office by the Roman proc- new appointees from among the priests. urator . Even so, as a for- The family of Annas were notorious- mer high priest, Annas continued to ex- ly greedy and enormously wealthy. ercise great power in Israel. Five of his They apparently acquired their riches sons and his son-in-law came to hold the through their monopoly on the sale of office of high priest. essentials for sacrifices in the temple pre- As long as Israel functioned as an in- cincts, such as doves, sheep, oil, and dependent nation, the high priest held wine. Josephus states that Ananus (Ana- his office for life. (Numbers 35:25) How- nias), the son of Annas, had “servants ever, under the Roman occupation of Is- who were utter rascals and who [would] rael, the high priest served at the plea- take by force the tithes of the priests; nor sure of the Roman governors and the did they refrain from beating those who kings appointed by Rome, and he could refused to give.”

THE WATCHTOWER ˙ APRIL 1, 2012 9