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Take a tour and see the place where Jesus appeared before Caiaphas, the high priest, and was beaten, tortured, and spent the night in a dungeon. Experience this horrific place and realize the price Jesus paid to forgive us for our sins and how much He loves us.
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Location
1. The House of Caiaphas, also known as the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu (cock's crow in Latin), is located on the eastern slope of Mount Zion, just outside the Old City of Jerusalem.
2. It can be accessed by Malki Tsedek Street
3. It is administered by the Roman Catholic Church.
Historical Background
1. The church consists of four levels: (1) the upper church (2) the middle church (3) the guardroom, and (4) the cistern (dungeon).
2. According to tradition, the church is the believed site of the House of Caiaphas.
3. A Byzantine church was built on this site in 457 AD.
4. It was later destroyed by Muslims in 1010.
5. It was rebuilt by the Crusaders in 1102 and given its present name.
6. It was destroyed in 1219 by the Turks.
7. Later, a chapel was built in 1300.
8. The church fell in ruins again by 1320.
9. The church that exists today was rebuilt in 1931.
Places of Interest
1. In the Courtyard of the church is a statue that recalls the events of Peter’s denial of Jesus. It shows Peter, the rooster that crowed, a maid, a servant, and a Roman soldier.
2. On the roof of the church is a rooster on a black cross, a symbol of Peter’s denial of Christ before the cock crowed.
3. The main sanctuary, located on the first floor, contains large multi-colored mosaics portraying figures from the New Testament.
4. On the second floor is a chapel that utilizes stone from ancient grottos as its walls. It also has mosaics from a 5th-century Byzantine church that previously existed at this site.
5. Above the cistern is the Guard Room. It overlooks the cistern (dungeon).
6. On the lower floor is a cistern (dungeon) where it’s believed Christ was placed the night after He was tried and condemned by Caiaphas.
7. Ruins and excavations outside the church at ground level.
8. A walkway with steps that run beside the church that was used for ascending and descending from Mount Zion to the Kidron Valley. They were most likely used by Jesus and His disciples as they went from the Upper Room, where they celebrated the Passover meal on Mount Zion, to the Garden of Gethsemane. Later, Christ would use these same steps as He was brought from Gethsemane, which led through the Kidron Valley, to the House of Caiaphas.
9. Upper viewing area where many sites can be seen. One of them is the Akeldama Monastery, which marks the place called the Field of Blood. The religious leaders purchased this property with the money Judas threw at their feet just before he went and hanged himself.
10. Upper Room
11. Mount Zion
12. Kidron Valley
13. Garden of Gethsemane
House of Caiaphas in the Bible
1. Christ foretells that Peter will deny Him 3 times (Mark 14:27–31).
2. Jesus appeared before Caiaphas, the High Priest, just after being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:57–68; Luke 22:63–65). :
3. Peter denies Christ (Matthew 26:69–75).
4. It’s believed Jesus spent the night in a cistern (dungeon) at the House of Caiaphas before being taken to Pilate the next morning (Matthew 27:1–2).
Faith Lesson from the House of Caiaphas
1. Peter had walked with Christ for 3 ½ years. He had heard numerous times that Christ would die and rise again.
2. Just hours before Peter’s denial of Christ, he said he would suffer and die with Christ if need be. But when reality set in, he abandoned Christ and denied Him 3 times.
3. He later wept bitterly and thought his relationship with Christ and ministry was finished. However, Christ restored Peter to fellowship and ministry at the Sea of Galilee.
4. How we can deny Christ in our own lives?
Do we deny His word, the truths in His word, or the clarity of the gospel in any way?
Do we deny we know Him by remaining silent when Christ or the Bible are attacked, slandered, or diminished?
Do we deny Him by not sharing the gospel with others?
Do we deny Christ by not spending time with Him in prayer, daily devotions, and Bible reading?
Do we deny Christ when it cost us to be identified with Him or persecuted for our faith in Him?
