[[Rabbeinu Tam|R. Jacob Tam]] expressed his belief that '''Simon CaIaphas''', the first Patriarch of Jerusalem, "was a devout and learned Jew, who dedicated his life to guiding [[Notzrim|Heretics]] along the proper path. R. Tam further maintained that Simon was the author of the Nishmat prayer recited on Sabbaths and Festivals. (Machzor Vitry, edited by S.Hurwitz, 1923, p.285 note 5 and p. 362 note 5. CF. [[Julius Eisenstein|J. Eisenstein]]'s articles on Simon CaIaphas in [[Otzar Israel]] and [[Otzar Midrashim]].)
The According to Rashi, the [http://lemidrash.free.fr/JudaismeChristianisme/index_toledoth.html Teliya] also praises Simon as a greatly learned and pious man dedicated to saving Israelites from [[Minuth|heresy]] and guiding gentile followers of displacement theology into Noahism.
Simon was officially instated as an Av Beit Din in Antioch by Theophilius on February 22nd.