Barabbas
“Son of the father, or son of the teacher”
Summary
A notorious criminal imprisoned for robbery, insurrection, and murder, whom the Jewish crowd chose to be released instead of Jesus Christ at Pilate's Passover amnesty.
☩Character and Crimes
All four Gospels record Barabbas as a dangerous criminal. Matthew calls him a 'notable' or notorious prisoner; John identifies him as a 'robber' or brigand; Mark and Luke specify that he was involved in an insurrection in Jerusalem and had committed murder during the uprising. He was not merely a common thief but a violent revolutionary whose crimes warranted execution under both Roman and Jewish law.
☩The Passover Custom
It was customary for the Roman governor to release one prisoner to the Jewish people at the Passover feast, likely a policy to conciliate Jewish sentiment toward Roman rule. Pilate, seeking to release Jesus whom he found innocent, thought to exploit this custom by offering the people a choice between Jesus and a manifestly wicked criminal. He apparently expected the crowd would choose Jesus.
☩The Crowd's Choice
The chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude to ask for Barabbas and demand Jesus's crucifixion. When Pilate posed the question, the crowd shouted for Barabbas. The governor's attempt to save Jesus backfired completely—the people preferred a murderous insurrectionist to their Messiah. Pilate washed his hands but yielded to the mob, releasing Barabbas and delivering Jesus to be crucified.
☩Theological Significance
The apostles later charged this choice upon the Jewish conscience. Peter declared, 'You denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life.' The contrast could not be sharper: rejecting the Author of life while choosing one who took life. Some ancient manuscripts give Barabbas the name 'Jesus Barabbas,' which if original, heightens the irony—the people chose 'Jesus son of the father' over Jesus the true Son of the Father.
Related Verses11 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Barabbas," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Barabbas," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Barabbas," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).