Barabbas

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) 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

The actual carved stone used in the aqueduct that brought water into Jerusalem. The Jewish historian Josephus makes it clear that funds from the temple treasury were called “Corban,” hence could not be used for secular purposes, e.g., city improvements, as in the building of an aqueduct for water supply (Wars 2.9.4).
Pontius Pilate's appropriation of funds from the holy treasury to build an aqueduct stirred up a coordinated protest in Jerusalem and possibly at the tower of Siloam, which was likely used to guard the spring, protecting and controlling water flow into the aqueduct.
Pilate discovered the plot and set soldiers in plain clothes among them in Jerusalem. The protest turned into a riotous rebellion in which men died.
When some militant Zealots simultaneously occupied the tower of Siloam, Pilate would have also sent troops to seize the tower which got eighteen men killed. Some believe Barabbas was arrested because of these seditious events. The cross was reserved for rebels who would seek to overthrow the government. Luke 13 is talking about the protestors' rebellion against the misuse of the Corban funds.

Then there was the "clamour about the aqueduct" where a few were bloodied and may have died.

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.

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 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). 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).

We see this word translated insurrection in Acts 15 with the word (συζήτησις suzētēsis).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)."

Luke 23:19 "(Who for a certain sedition(στασις stasis) 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) 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) 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), 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) between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided."

Acts 23:10 "And when there arose a great dissension(στασις stasis), 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) 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):"

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 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.” John 18:39-40

Pontius Pilate, the praefectus or governor...