Barabbas

Portrait of Barabbas

Barabbas was a criminal and insurrectionist imprisoned by the Romans for murder and rebellion in Jerusalem around the time of Jesus' trial. During the Passover festival, Pontius Pilate followed the custom of releasing one prisoner chosen by the crowd and offered either Barabbas or Jesus, but the assembled people demanded Barabbas' freedom while calling for Jesus' crucifixion. This episode, recorded in all four Gospels, forms a key part of the Passion narrative and highlights the political pressures on Pilate amid first-century tensions between Roman authority and Jewish expectations. Its significance lies in showing the substitution of a guilty man for the innocent Jesus, advancing the events that led to the crucifixion.

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Biography

Occupation
Insurrectionist, Robber
Era
New Testament (c. AD 30-33)
Nationality
Jewish
Also Known As
Jesus Barabbas (some manuscripts)
New Testament New Testament Era Villain Matthew

Did You Know?

1

Barabbas's name appears as "Jesus Barabbas" in several ancient manuscripts of Matthew 27:16-17, creating a direct onomastic parallel with Jesus of Nazareth as two men both titled "son of the father."

2

Mark 15:7 and Luke 23:19 specify that Barabbas had committed murder during an anti-Roman insurrection in Jerusalem, identifying him as a political insurgent rather than a generic robber.

3

The Passover prisoner-release custom invoked by Pilate is unattested in any other ancient source, indicating it was likely an ad-hoc Roman concession to Jewish crowds rather than a regular "privilegium paschale."

4

Origen, writing in the third century, explicitly discussed the textual variant of Barabbas's name and its theological implication that the crowd chose one "Jesus" over another.

5

All four Gospels record Barabbas's release yet remain silent on his subsequent fate, leaving the insurrectionist as a narrative foil whose post-Passion life is unknown to both scripture and early Christian tradition.

Key Passages

Barabbas Released

Matthew 27:15-26

This passage shows Jesus taking a guilty man's place, reminding us that His sacrifice sets sinners free.

N15ow at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Read full chapter: Matthew 27 โ†’

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas

John 18:39-40

This passage shows how easily people reject Jesus for sin, highlighting the costly exchange where He takes our place to set us free.

B39ut ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Read full chapter: John 18 โ†’

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