King James Bible
"Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness."
This unusual dual reference reflects the complex political situation where Annas, though deposed by Rome in AD 15, retained influence while his son-in-law Caiaphas held the official position. The mention of both priests dates John's ministry to a specific historical moment and highlights the corrupted state of religious leadership. This prophetic formula echoes Old Testament language for divine revelation, marking John as a true prophet after centuries of silence. God bypasses the established religious authorities in Jerusalem to speak through an outsider. John's identity as Zacharias' son connects him to priestly lineage, yet his wilderness location places him outside the temple system. The wilderness setting evokes Israel's formative experiences with God and positions John as calling for national renewal away from institutional religion.