Barabbas is a name that shows up briefly in the Gospels, but his story has a deep meaning. While he only appears during the trial of Jesus, Barabbas plays an important role in the events of Good Friday. Let's look at 10 interesting facts about Barabbas in the Bible.
1. Barabbas Was a Prisoner During Jesus’ Trial
Barabbas was already in prison when Jesus was arrested. He was well-known to the Roman authorities.
“At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas.” — Matthew 27:16 (NIV)
2. He Was Guilty of Serious Crimes
Barabbas wasn’t just any criminal. The Bible says he was involved in a rebellion and had committed murder.
“Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.” — Luke 23:19 (ESV)
3. Barabbas Was a Rebel Against Rome
Barabbas was likely part of a group trying to overthrow Roman rule. That made him dangerous to the peace the Romans wanted to keep in Jerusalem.
“Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising.” — Mark 15:7 (NIV)
4. His Name Means “Son of the Father”
The name Barabbas comes from Bar-Abba in Aramaic, meaning “son of the father.” This is an ironic twist considering Jesus was the true Son of the Heavenly Father.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Barabbas | Son of the father |
| Jesus (Yeshua) | Savior or Deliverer |
5. The Crowd Chose Barabbas Over Jesus
Pilate offered the people a choice—release Jesus or Barabbas. Shockingly, they chose Barabbas.
“So they gathered. Pilate said to them, ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’” — Matthew 27:17 (NIV)
6. Pilate Tried to Change Their Minds
Pontius Pilate saw that Jesus had done nothing wrong and even called Him innocent. But the crowd kept shouting for Barabbas.
“So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas...” — Mark 15:15 (ESV)
7. Barabbas Was Freed, Though Guilty
Barabbas, the guilty man, was set free while Jesus, the innocent Son of God, was sentenced to die. This shows the great exchange—Jesus took the punishment that others deserved.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us...” — 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
8. His Story Highlights the Power of Grace
Barabbas didn’t ask to be saved. He did nothing to earn it. Yet he walked out of prison free because of Jesus. That’s a clear picture of God’s grace.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” — Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
9. Barabbas Is Never Mentioned Again
After he was freed, the Bible never tells us what happened to Barabbas. Did he change his life? Did he follow Jesus? We don’t know.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Did Barabbas repent? | Not recorded |
| Did he follow Jesus? | Unknown |
| What happened to him? | Bible is silent |
10. Barabbas Represents All of Us
In a way, Barabbas stands for every sinner. We are all guilty, but Jesus took our place. He was punished so we could go free.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 (NIV)
