Barabbas — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Show passage in OET: MAT 27:15–26

15 It was the time of the Passover celebrations, and a tradition had been established that the governor would release one prisoner to the people—whoever they chose.

OET-RV MAT 27:16

16 At that time, there was a well-known prisoner named Bar -Aba (Grk. Barabbas),

OET-RV MAT 27:17

17 so when all the people had gathered, Pilatos (Pilate) shouted down to them, “Who would you all like me to release: Bar-Aba or Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) who’s also being called the messiah?”

OET-RV MAT 27:18

18 He said this because he knew that Yeshua had been arrested because of the jealousy of the Jewish leaders.

OET-RV MAT 27:19

19 But while Pilatos was still making his judgement, his wife sent a note to him, saying, “Don’t touch that guiltless man because I was very distressed by a dream I had about him.”

OET-RV MAT 27:20

20 Meanwhile the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to request that Bar-Aba be released and that Yeshua should be sentenced,

OET-RV MAT 27:21

21 so when the governor asked them, “Which of these two men should I release?” they called back, “Bar-Aba.”

OET-RV MAT 27:22

22 “So what should I do to Yeshua who’s called the messiah?” Pilatos asked.
¶ “Execute him on a stake!” they all responded.

OET-RV MAT 27:23

23 “But what crime has he done?” demanded Pilatos.
¶ But they just kept yelling loudly, “Execute him on a stake.”

OET-RV MAT 27:24

24 When Pilatos saw that it was going nowhere other than to turn into a riot, got a bowl of water and washed his hands up there in front of the crowd, announcing, “I’m innocent of the blood of this man who has done nothing wrong. It’s your responsibility now.”

OET-RV MAT 27:25

25 ⇔“The responsibility for his blood will be on us and on our children,” the people shouted back.

OET-RV MAT 27:26

26 Then Pilatos commanded that Bar -Aba (Grk. Barabbas) be released. He commanded that Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) be flogged and then he handed him over to be executed.

OET-LV MAT 27:15

15 And concerning the_feast, the governor had _been _accustomed to _be _sending _away one prisoner to _the crowd, whom they _were _wanting.

OET-LV MAT 27:16

16 And they _were _having then the_ notable _prisoner being _called Barabbas.

OET-LV MAT 27:17

17 Therefore of _them having _been _gathered _together, the Pilatos said to _them:
Whom are _you _all _willing I _may _send _away to _you _all, Barabbas or Yaʸsous, who is being _called the_chosen _one /messiah?

OET-LV MAT 27:18

18 For/Because he _had _known that they _gave_ him _over because _of envy.

OET-LV MAT 27:19

19 But him sitting on the tribunal, the wife of _him sent _out to him saying:
Let _be nothing to _you and the that righteous man, because/for I _suffered many things today in a_dream because _of him.

OET-LV MAT 27:20

20 But the chief _priests and the elders persuaded the crowds that they _may _request the Barabbas and they _may _destroy the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa).

OET-LV MAT 27:21

21 And the governor answering said to _them:
Which are _you _all _wanting of the two, I _may _send _away to _you _all?
And they said, the Barabbas.

OET-LV MAT 27:22

22 The Pilatos is _saying to _them:
Therefore what may _I _do to_Yaʸsous, who is being _called the_chosen _one /messiah?
All are _saying:
˓Let˒_him _be _executed _on _a _stake.

OET-LV MAT 27:23

23 And he was _saying:
For/Because what evil he _did?
And they were_ exceedingly _crying _out saying:
˓Let˒_him _be _executed _on _a _stake.

OET-LV MAT 27:24

24 And the Pilatos having _seen that it _is _benefiting nothing, but rather is _becoming a_commotion, having _taken water, he _washed _off his hands in _front _of the crowd saying:
I _am innocent of the blood the this righteous one,.
you _all will _be _seeing to _it.

OET-LV MAT 27:25

25 And all the people answering said:
The blood of _him is on us and on the children of _us.

OET-LV MAT 27:26

26 Then he _sent_ The Barabbas _away to _them, but having _flogged the Yaʸsous, he _gave_ him _over, in _order _that he _may _be _executed _on _a _stake.

Show passage in OET: MRK 15:6–15

OET-RV MRK 15:6

6 Now at time of the Jewish Passover, at their request, Pilatos (Pilate) would normally pardon one prisoner for them.

OET-RV MRK 15:7

7 There was another prisoner at that time named Bar -Aba (Grk. Barabbas), who was an activist arrested for murder.

OET-RV MRK 15:8

8 By now the crowd had arrived, and asked Pilatos to release a prisoner as usual at Passover,

OET-RV MRK 15:9

9 so he asked them, “Do you all want me to release the King of the Yehudim (Jews) for you?”

OET-RV MRK 15:10

10 (That was because Pilatos was well aware that the chief priests had brought Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) because they were jealous of his popularity.)

OET-RV MRK 15:11

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to start saying that it was Bar-Aba that they wanted released,

OET-RV MRK 15:12

12 so Pilatos asked again, “Then what should I do with this man that you call the King of the Yehudim?”

OET-RV MRK 15:13

13 The crowd yelled back, “Execute him on a post.”

OET-RV MRK 15:14

14 “What has he even done wrong?” Pilatos demanded.
¶ But they just yelled louder, “Execute him on a post!”

OET-RV MRK 15:15

15 Now Pilatos wanted to placate the crowd, so he had Bar-Aba released while he had Yeshua flogged and then handed over to the execution squad.

OET-LV MRK 15:6

6 And on the_feast, he _was _sending _away to _them one prisoner, whom they _were _excusing.

OET-LV MRK 15:7

7 And was the one being _called Barabbas, having _been _bound with the insurrectionists, who had _done murder in the insurrection.

OET-LV MRK 15:8

8 And having _gone _up, the crowd began to _be _requesting as he _was _doing for _them.

OET-LV MRK 15:9

9 But the Pilatos answered to _them saying:
Are _you _all _wanting I _may _send_ The king of _the Youdaiōns _away to _you _all?

OET-LV MRK 15:10

10 For/Because he _was _knowing that the chief _priests had _given_ him _over because _of envy.

OET-LV MRK 15:11

11 But the chief _priests stirred _up the crowd, in _order _that he _may_ rather _send _away the Barabbas to _them.

OET-LV MRK 15:12

12 And the Pilatos again answering was _saying to _them:
Therefore what I _may _do which you _all _are _calling the king of _the Youdaiōns?

OET-LV MRK 15:13

13 And they cried _out again:
Execute _on _a _stake him.

OET-LV MRK 15:14

14 And the Pilatos was _saying to _them:
For/Because what evil he _did?
But they exceedingly cried _out:
Execute _on _a _stake him.

OET-LV MRK 15:15

15 And the Pilatos wishing to _do, the much for _the crowd sent_ The Barabbas _away to _them, and having _flogged him, gave_ The Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) _over in _order _that he _may _be _executed _on _a _stake.

Show passage in OET: LUK 23:18–25

OET-RV LUK 23:18

18 But they all yelled out in unison, “Take him away and release Bar -Aba (Grk. Barabbas) instead!”

OET-RV LUK 23:19

19 (Bar-Aba had been thrown into prison for murder after an uprising that had occurred in the city.)

OET-RV LUK 23:20

20 Pilatos called out again to them wanting to release Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus)

OET-RV LUK 23:21

21 but they kept yelling, “Execute him on a post! Execute him on a post!”

OET-RV LUK 23:22

22 He tried a third time, “But what crime has this man committed? I’ve found nothing worthy of the death sentence, so I’ll discipline him and then release him.”

OET-RV LUK 23:23

23 But they kept loudly insisting that he be executed on a post, and the yelling of the crowd was strong enough to convince Pilatos,

OET-RV LUK 23:24

24 so he conceded to their request

OET-RV LUK 23:25

25 and released the one thrown into prison for murder and rebellion, but he conceded to sentence Yeshua as they had wanted.

OET-LV LUK 23:18

18 But They _cried _out all _together saying:
Be _taking _away this man, and send_ The Barabbas _away to _us.

OET-LV LUK 23:19

19 Who was, having _been _throw in the prison because _of a_certain insurrection having _become in the city and murder.

OET-LV LUK 23:20

20 And again the Pilatos called _out to _them, wanting to _send_ The Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) _away.

OET-LV LUK 23:21

21 But they were _crying _out saying:
Be _executing _on _a _stake, be _executing _on _a _stake him.

OET-LV LUK 23:22

22 And thirdly he said to them:
For/Because what evil did this man?
I _found not _one cause of _death in him.
Therefore having _disciplined him, I _will _be _sending _away him.

OET-LV LUK 23:23

23 And they were _imposing with_ loud _voices, requesting him to _be _executed _on _a _stake, and the voices of _them.
were _prevailing.

OET-LV LUK 23:24

24 And Pilatos sentenced the request of _them to _become.

OET-LV LUK 23:25

25 And sent _away the one having _been _throw into the because _of insurrection and murder prison, whom they _were _requesting, but the he _gave_ Yaʸsous _over to _the will of _them.

Show passage in OET: JHN 18:39–40

OET-RV JHN 18:39

39 But you all have a custom here that the governor can release one prisoner during the Passover. So would you like me to release the king of the Yehudim?”

OET-RV JHN 18:40

40 But they all yelled back, “No, not this one. Release Bar -Aba (Grk. Barabbas).” (Bar-Aba was a robber.)

OET-LV JHN 18:39

39 But it _is a_custom with _you _all, that I _may _send _away one to _you _all at the passover_feast, therefore are _you _all _wishing I _may _send _away to _you _all the king of _the Youdaiōns?

OET-LV JHN 18:40

40 Therefore they _cried _out again saying:
Not this one, but the Barabbas.
And the Barabbas was a_robber.

Show passage in OET: ACT 3:14

OET-RV ACT 3:14

14 You disowned this man who was innocent and sinless, and instead you requested that a murderer be released to you.

OET-LV ACT 3:14

14 But you _all disowned the holy one and righteous one, and you _all _requested a_man a_murderer to _be _granted to _you _all,

Jump to OET MAT 27:15–26 section.

Jump to OET MRK 15:6–15 section.

Jump to OET LUK 23:18–25 section.

Jump to OET JHN 18:39–40 section.

Jump to OET ACT 3:14 section.

Barabbas was a bandit and/or revolutionary (Jn 18:40) who had been imprisoned for committing murder during an insurrection (Mk 15:7; Lk 23:19). (The word translated “robber” in John 18:40 can denote either a bandit or revolutionary.) He was regarded as a notorious prisoner (Mt 27:16). His insurrection may have been an unusually violent act of robbery or an internal struggle among the Jews, but many scholars view it as a political insurrection against the Roman forces in Jerusalem. It is not unlikely that Barabbas was a member of the Zealots, a Jewish political group that sought to throw off the yoke of Rome by violence.

Show passage in OET: JHN 18:40

OET-RV JHN 18:40

40 But they all yelled back, “No, not this one. Release Bar -Aba (Grk. Barabbas).” (Bar-Aba was a robber.)

OET-LV JHN 18:40

40 Therefore they _cried _out again saying:
Not this one, but the Barabbas.
And the Barabbas was a_robber.

Show passage in OET: MRK 15:7

OET-RV MRK 15:7

7 There was another prisoner at that time named Bar -Aba (Grk. Barabbas), who was an activist arrested for murder.

OET-LV MRK 15:7

7 And was the one being _called Barabbas, having _been _bound with the insurrectionists, who had _done murder in the insurrection.

Show passage in OET: LUK 23:19

OET-RV LUK 23:19

19 (Bar-Aba had been thrown into prison for murder after an uprising that had occurred in the city.)

OET-LV LUK 23:19

19 Who was, having _been _throw in the prison because _of a_certain insurrection having _become in the city and murder.

Show passage in OET: MAT 27:16

OET-RV MAT 27:16

16 At that time, there was a well-known prisoner named Bar -Aba (Grk. Barabbas),

OET-LV MAT 27:16

16 And they _were _having then the_ notable _prisoner being _called Barabbas.

Jump to OET JHN 18:40 section.

Jump to OET MRK 15:7 section.

Jump to OET LUK 23:19 section.

Jump to OET MAT 27:16 section.

After examining Jesus, the vacillating Roman procurator, Pilate, recognized that Jesus was innocent and wanted to free him. Yet Pilate also had an interest in pleasing the Jewish leaders in order to protect his own political position. In the face of his dilemma he offered to release a prisoner to the Jews at their Passover feast (Jn 18:39). Given the option of Jesus or Barabbas, Pilate thought that the Jewish crowd would choose to have Jesus set free. Pilate underestimated either the mood of the mob or the influence of the Jewish leaders, or both. Whatever the reason, the throng shouted for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified (Mt 27:21-22). Consequently, Jesus was crucified and Barabbas, after being released, disappeared from biblical and secular history.