Catena Aurea on Matthew 26:3–5: John Chrysostom

With such ill designs they came to the chief Priest, seeking a sanction whence a prohibition should have issued. There were at that time several Chief Priests, while the Law allowed but of one, whence it was manifest that the dissolution of the Jewish state was having its beginning. For Moses had commanded that there should be one Chief Priest, whose office should be filled up at death; but in process of time it grew to be annual. All those then who had been Chief Priests [marg. note: τοὺς ἀπ᾽ ἀρχιερέως] are here called “Chief Priests.”