Facts about Barabbas
Barabbas lived during a time when the independent Jewish state established by the Hasmonean dynasty had been brought to an end by the unrivaled power of the Roman Empire.
The story of Barabbas has special social significances, partly because it has frequently been used to lay the blame for the Crucifixion on the Jews and thus justify anti-Semitism.
The crowd was offered a choice of whether to have Barabbas or Jesus released from Roman custody.
Here, Barabbas is haunted by Jesus' innocent blood being spilled in place of his, and his life is never the same.
The insurrectionist Barabbas was thus much more likely to have disciples who were willing to risk being publicly associated with him.
In 1961, Anthony Quinn played the title role of Barabbas in a popular Hollywood movie.
Barabbas had already been imprisoned with his fellow rebels, and now Jesus was bound and brought to the Roman governor's residence in Jerusalem.
Barabbas had been charged with the crime of treason against Rome—the same crime for which Jesus was also convicted.
Mark, thought generally to be the earliest of the gospels, reports: "The chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead (of Jesus).
Like Barabbas, Jesus of Nazareth was charged with treason against Rome.
Several claimants to the title of Messiah arose in decades immediately before and after the time of Barabbas.
In any case, the gospels agree that the crowd, urged on by the high priest's group, demand that Pilate release Barabbas.
Clearly, Barabbas was no mere robber, but was probably a leader of a group that had acted violently against Roman authority.
Mark, thought generally to be the earliest of the gospels, reports: "The chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead (of Jesus).
Mark's statement that "Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising," makes it likely that other Zealots besides Barabbas had been scheduled for execution.