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== Barabbas ==

A number of sources identify Barabbas as ''Iēsoûs Bar Rhabbân'' or Jesus bar Abbas. This would identify him as Yeshua the ''son of the Father''. 

This would be a good name chosen by someone who is a condender for the throne. Noone had sat on the throne in Jerusalem  since [[Herod]] died.

The Codex Koridethi, [[Origen]], and other identify him with forms of the prophetic name ''Jesus''. Bar Rabbān, could be seen as 'Son of our Rabbi', while Bar Abbâs would be accepted as son of the Father.


== Critics and controversy ==

Critics of the biblical story make a feeble attempt to argue the veracity of the narrative as an accurate historical acount.

Both Max Dimont and Raymond Brown try to explain the story with numerous weak or faulty perspectives. 

Governers had been recalled for allowing relatively small protests to upset the ''status quo''. Not only was turning out troops expensive the effect on the popularity of Rome was counter productive. Anything that might disrupt ''trade and business'' and effect the profits flowing to Rome was frowned upon.

[[Pontius Pilate]] was first the chief financial officer for Rome in Judea.

Jesus was not condemned and Barabas's charge of sedition may be because he opposed the Pharisees and not Rome.

The suggestion that Pilate ''cowed'' to the demands of civilian mob and chose to release a ''condemned prisoner'' who had committed insurrection against the Roman Empire does not fit the narrative.

[[Luke 23]]:19 states the sedition(στασις stasis)<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref> was "made in the city" not against Rome. Jurisdiction matters to Rome.

The power was not in what armies could do but what the Emperor wanted and that was prosperity.

=== Three strikes ===
 
Pilate had served under Emperor Tiberius but Rome wanted peace because it was good for business. He already had several strikes against him.

There was the "ensigns incident" where ideological radicals just begged to die by execution3<Ref>"On one occasion, when the soldiers under his command came to Jerusalem, he caused them to bring with them their ensigns, upon which were the usual images of the emperor. The ensigns were brought in privily by night, put their presence was soon discovered. Immediately multitudes of excited Jews hastened to Caesarea to petition him for the removal of the obnoxious ensigns. For five days he refused to hear them, but on the sixth he took his place on the judgment seat, and when the Jews were admitted he had them surrounded with soldiers and threatened them with instant death unless they ceased to trouble him with the matter. The Jews thereupon flung themselves on the ground and bared their necks, declaring that they preferred death to the violation of their laws. Pilate, unwilling to slay so many, yielded the point and removed the ensigns." The Standards- [[Josephus]], War 2.169-174, Antiq 18.55-59.</Ref>
{{stoneaqueductpic}}

Then there was the "clamour about the aqueduct" where a few were bloodied and may have died.<Ref>"At another time he(Pilate) used the sacred treasure of the temple, called [[corban]] (qorban), to pay for bringing water into Jerusalem by an aqueduct. A crowd came together and clamored against him; but he had caused soldiers dressed as civilians to mingle with the multitude, and at a given signal they fell upon the rioters and beat them so severely with staves that the riot was quelled." The Aqueduct- [[Josephus]], War 2.175-177, Antiq 18.60-62.</Ref> 

Then there was an inscription concerning a gift of shields p,aced in Herod's palace that was eventually petioned all the way to [[Tiberius]].<Ref>"[[Philo of Alexandria|Philo]] tells us (Legatio ad Caium, xxxviii) that on other occasion he dedicated some gilt shields in the palace of Herod in honor of the emperor. On these shields there was no representation of any forbidden thing, but simply an inscription of the name of the donor and of him in whose honor they were set up. The Jews petitioned him to have them removed; when he refused, they appealed to Tiberius, who sent an order that they should be removed to Caesarea." International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia.</Ref>

Pilate only wanted to release Barrabas in order to spare Jesus who was a just man and the rightful king of Judea.

Another mere "Boston tea party" type event could mean his recall.

== The Practice of Pardoning ==

Pardoning criminals from Livy to Pliny the Younger was a common way to win favor with the masses. Even the Vestal Virgins, who were above bribery, could commute sentences even the death penalty. N. T. Wright quotes Josephus's Antiquities and the [[Mishnah]] on the subject in support of the common practice of releasing prisners.

=== INSURECTION ===

Matthew only tells us that Barabbas was a "notable prisoner". The term ''notable'' is from episemos<Ref name="episemos">{{1978}}</Ref> which suggest he was a prominent organizer in some seditious act. Luke tells us it was against the city, not the empire.

He was a prisoner(δέσμιος desmios).<Ref name="desmios">{{1198}}</Ref> and had been arrested by at least the civil authorities for something akin to ''insurrection'' or ''sedition'' which according to Luke included ''murder.(φόνος'' phonos).<Ref name="stasis">{{5408}}</Ref>

We see this word translated insurrection in Acts 15 with the word (συζήτησις suzētēsis).<Ref name="suzētēsis">{{4803}}</Ref>meaning disputation.

'''List of verses'''

[[Mark 15]]:7 "And there was one named [[Barabbas]], which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection(στασις stasis)."<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref>

[[Luke 23]]:19 "(Who for a certain sedition(στασις stasis)<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref> made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)"

[[Luke 23]]:25 "And he released unto them him that for sedition(στασις stasis)<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref> and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will."

[[Acts 15]]:2 "When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension(στασις stasis)<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref> and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question."

[[Acts 19]]:40 "For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar(στασις stasis)<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref>, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse."

[[Acts 23]]:7 "And when he had so said, there arose a dissension(στασις stasis)<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref> between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided."

[[Acts 23]]:10 "And when there arose a great dissension(στασις stasis)<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref>, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle."

[[Acts 24]:5 "For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition(στασις stasis)<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref> among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:"

[[Hebrews 9]]:8 "The [[Holy Ghost]] this signifying, that [[the way]] into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing(στασις stasis)<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref>:"

== Matthew account ==

“‭16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called [[Barabbas]]. ‭17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? [[Barabbas]], or Jesus which is called Christ? ‭18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. ‭19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. ‭20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask [[Barabbas]], and destroy Jesus. ‭21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, [[Barabbas]]. ‭22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.” [[Matthew 27]]:16-22



== Mark account ==

“‭7 And there was one named [[Barabbas]], which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. ‭8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. ‭9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? ‭10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. ‭11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release [[Barabbas]] unto them. ‭12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? ‭13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. ‭14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. ‭15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released [[Barabbas]] unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. ‭16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. ‭17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, ‭18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!” Mark 15:7-18



== Luke account ==

“‭13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ‭14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: ‭15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. ‭16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him. ‭17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) ‭18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: ‭19 (Who for a certain sedition<Ref name="stasis">{{4714}}</Ref> made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) ‭20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. ‭21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. ‭22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. ‭23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.” [[Luke 23]]:13-23

== John account ==

“‭39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? ‭40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but [[Barabbas]]. Now [[Barabbas]] was a robber.”<Ref name="lestes">{{3027}}</Ref> John 18:39-40


Pontius Pilate, the praefectus or governor...

==Footnotes==

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[[Category:Bible people]]