Luke 23:19

Luke 23:19, in plain English

Luke tells us who Barabbas actually was: a man imprisoned for starting a violent rebellion and committing murder. This is who the crowd chose over Jesus.

Why it's here

The cruel irony: Jesus was falsely accused of inciting rebellion, and the crowd frees a man who actually did it. The innocent trades places with the guilty.

Who's speaking

Luke provides this detail so you'll feel the full weight of the injustice — and perhaps see in it a picture of what Jesus does for all of us.

Where it sits in the story

They accused Jesus of being a rebel and chose an actual rebel instead. They condemned the innocent and freed the guilty. But hidden in this terrible injustice is the very heart of the gospel: the innocent One taking the place of the guilty. That's what Jesus does for you.

The scholarly reading

Luke provides background on Barabbas: imprisoned dia stasin (for an insurrection/revolt) in the city and phonon (murder). The term stasis indicates political rebellion — the very charge they falsely leveled against Jesus.

Language and setting

The irony intensifies: the crowd chooses a man actually guilty of insurrection (the false charge against Jesus) and murder. Barabbas embodies what they accused Jesus of being.

Voice

Luke provides crucial context about Barabbas, showing that the man chosen instead of Jesus is guilty of the very crimes falsely attributed to Jesus.

Significance

Luke pauses to tell you who Barabbas is: a real insurrectionist and a real murderer. The charge they fabricated against Jesus — inciting rebellion — is the actual crime of the man they prefer. The innocent dies so the guilty can go free — a pattern that defines the gospel itself.

18But they all cried out in unison: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”

19(Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,

21but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Read all of Luke 23 — Pilate finds no fault. Herod finds entertainment. The crowd demands blood. And on a cross between two criminals, Jesus forgives.