Bible Figure
Barabbas
Biblical person
Barabbas was a prisoner released by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate instead of Jesus during the Passion. The Gospels associate him with rebellion and serious violence. When Pilate offered the crowd a customary release, the crowd demanded Barabbas and called for Jesus to be crucified.
Biography
All four Gospels include Barabbas in the account of Jesus' trial before Pilate. He was being held as a prisoner and is variously described in connection with insurrection, murder, robbery, or notorious criminal activity. Pilate, convinced that the charges against Jesus did not justify execution, offered the crowd a choice involving the release of a prisoner. Influenced by the chief priests and leaders, the crowd chose Barabbas and demanded the crucifixion of Jesus. Barabbas was therefore released while Jesus was condemned. Scripture tells nothing reliable about Barabbas' life before the crimes mentioned in the Passion accounts or about what happened to him afterward.
Biblical Significance
Barabbas occupies a brief but powerful place in the Passion narrative: a guilty prisoner goes free while the innocent Jesus is condemned. The Gospels do not explicitly turn Barabbas into a theological allegory, but the contrast vividly accompanies the New Testament proclamation that Christ suffered on behalf of sinners. His release also illustrates the political and popular pressures surrounding Jesus' trial.