Gratus restructured the Temple leadership, promoting and demoting people until he found someone he liked. He first deposed Annas (also called Ananus), who is known as one of Jesus' two chief antagonists, and later promoted Joseph Caiaphas, Jesus' other enemy within the Temple. The succession of chief priests goes as follows: Annas (A.D. 6 to 15), Ishmael (15 to 16), Eleazar (16 to 17), Simon (17 to 18), and Caiaphas (18 to 36) to be followed by others.

Ancient sources: Antiquities 18.2.2, 18.6.1.