Person
Barabbas
Mentioned in 10 verses across 4 books, first in Matthew 27:16. The verses below are the ones linked to this person (the Theographic dataset, with our sourced corrections).
In the Bible
All 10 verses, in Bible order. Text from the Berean Standard Bible; verse numbers follow the KJV.
Matthew
- Matthew 27:16
At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.
- Matthew 27:17
So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
- Matthew 27:20
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.
- Matthew 27:21
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.
- Matthew 27:26
So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
Mark
- Mark 15:7
And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.
- Mark 15:11
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.
- Mark 15:15
And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
Luke
- Luke 23:18
But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”
John
- John 18:40
“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
Events
Events the dataset lists Barabbas as taking part in. Dates follow its Ussher–Jones reckoning (one of several traditional counts), not established history.
- no dateRoman Trials
Dictionary
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), as attached to this record by Theographic. The entry is for the name and can describe more than one person who bore it. Easton wrote in 1897, and some of his views are now debated.
Read Easton’s entry
I.e., son of Abba or of a father, a notorious robber whom Pilate proposed to condemn to death instead of Jesus, whom he wished to release, in accordance with the Roman custom (John 18:40; Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19). But the Jews were so bent on the death of Jesus that they demanded that Barabbas should be pardoned (Matt. 27:16-26; Acts 3:14). This Pilate did.