One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising.
Parallel translations
- WEB There was one called Barabbas, bound with his fellow insurgents, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.
- 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.
- BSB And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.
- NKJV And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.
- NASB And the one named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder in the revolt.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Barabbas was a real insurrectionist and murderer in prison. He represents the guilty deserving of death.
Overview
Barabbas had committed the very crimes of rebellion and murder of which Jesus was falsely accused. His guilt stands in sharp contrast to Jesus' innocence. The setup foreshadows a striking picture of substitution, in which the guilty goes free and the innocent is condemned.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Matt 27:16They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
- Luke 23:18–19But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!” —
- Luke 23:25He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 15:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.