Who Was Barabbas in the Bible?
Barabbas appears in all four Gospels as the prisoner released instead of Jesus Christ during the Passover amnesty ordered by Pontius Pilate.
Primary Gospel References
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Matthew 27:15–26
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Mark 15:6–15
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Luke 23:18–25
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John 18:39–40
Barabbas was not a minor offender.
What Did Barabbas Do?
The Bible describes Barabbas as:
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A notorious prisoner (Matthew 27:16)
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An insurrectionist (Mark 15:7)
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A murderer (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19)
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A robber/bandit (John 18:40)
In Plain Terms
Barabbas was involved in a violent uprising against Roman rule, likely part of a Jewish rebel movement. These uprisings often included:
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Attacks on Roman soldiers
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Assassinations
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Riots
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Armed resistance
Rome viewed such men as terrorists; many Jews viewed them as freedom fighters.
Why Was Barabbas in Prison?
He was awaiting execution.
Crucifixion was the standard Roman punishment for:
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Insurrection
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Murder
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Political rebellion
Barabbas was on death row.
Why Was He Released?
During Passover, Pilate followed a custom of releasing one prisoner chosen by the crowd.
Pilate presented two men:
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Jesus of Nazareth – innocent, accused of blasphemy
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Barabbas – guilty, violent revolutionary
The crowd chose Barabbas.
“Not this man, but Barabbas!”
— John 18:40
What Happened to Barabbas After His Release?
The Bible is silent.
No Gospel records:
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His repentance
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His escape
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His later life
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His death
This silence is deliberate and powerful.
Was Barabbas Also Called Jesus?
Yes — In Some Ancient Manuscripts
Some early manuscripts of Matthew 27:16–17 refer to him as:
“Jesus Barabbas”
So Pilate’s question may have been:
“Whom do you want me to release to you:
Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?”
What Does the Name Barabbas Mean?
Bar-Abba (Aramaic) = “Son of the Father”
So we have:
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Jesus Barabbas → “Jesus, son of the father”
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Jesus Christ → “Jesus, Son of the Father (God)”
This creates one of the most dramatic ironies in Scripture.
Why Do Some Bibles Remove “Jesus” from Barabbas’ Name?
Early Christian scribes were uncomfortable writing the name Jesus for a murderer and rebel. Over time, many copies dropped “Jesus” and left only “Barabbas.”
However:
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Early Church scholar Origen (3rd century) confirms that some manuscripts did include “Jesus Barabbas”
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Modern critical editions acknowledge this variant
Theological Meaning: Why This Matters
Barabbas is a living symbol of substitution.
What Happened
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The guilty man goes free
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The innocent man is crucified
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The punishment meant for Barabbas falls on Jesus
This is the core of Christian theology:
The innocent dies so the guilty may live.
Barabbas walked free because Jesus took his place.
Why the Crowd Chose Barabbas
Several reasons:
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Barabbas fought Rome with violence — people expected a political Messiah
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Jesus preached love, repentance, and humility
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Religious leaders stirred the crowd
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Nationalistic anger over Roman occupation
They chose power over truth.
Barabbas in One Sentence
Barabbas was a violent rebel and murderer, possibly named Jesus, who was released from death because Jesus Christ took his place on the cross.
Final Reflection
Every Christian tradition teaches this quietly profound truth:
We are all Barabbas.
Guilty — yet set free — because Christ was condemned.