Barabbas
Israelite / Jew Jewish · Life of Christ · New Testament
- Name means
- 'son of the father' (Aramaic)
- Role
- Prisoner released instead of Jesus
- When
- c. AD 30
What they did
A notable prisoner, a robber who had committed murder in an insurrection; when Pilate offered to release a prisoner at the feast, the crowd chose Barabbas and called for Jesus to be crucified.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
The guilty man went free while the innocent One was condemned, a vivid picture often used of Christ dying in the place of sinners.
And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. Mark 15:15 (KJV)
Bible references
And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 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? Matthew 27:16-17 (KJV)
And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. Mark 15:7 (KJV)
And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. Mark 15:15 (KJV)
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:40 (KJV)
Family
Scripture records little about this person's family.