The Crucifixion
And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. Mark 15:7 · Berean Standard Bible
There was a man named Barabbas in prison with other rebels who had committed murder during a revolt.
Barabbas' name literally means 'son of the father.' The crowd will choose this violent criminal, the false 'son of the father,' over Jesus, the true Son of the Father.
Mark introduces the man who will be released instead of Jesus.
Barabbas was everything Jesus wasn't: violent, political, and revolutionary. The people wanted a warrior king, not a suffering servant.
Mark introduces Barabbas, imprisoned with stasiastai (insurrectionists) who had committed phonos (murder) during a recent stasis (uprising/revolt).
Barabbas' name (Bar-Abbas, 'son of the father') creates an ironic contrast with Jesus, the true Son of the Father. He represents the violent revolutionary messiah the people expected.
The narrator introduces Barabbas and his criminal background.
Barabbas embodies the kind of political messiah many Jews hoped for: a violent revolutionary. The crowd will soon choose this counterfeit deliverer over the true one.
5But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.
6Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.
7And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.
8So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom.
9“Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.
Read all of Mark 15 — Pilate washes his hands, soldiers mock the King of Kings, and darkness covers the land. The curtain in the temple tears from top to bottom.
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