Barabbas

A notorious prisoner released instead of Jesus.

A written article for Barabbas is still to come. Below and alongside: where Barabbas appears in Scripture, with the original words and any dates on record.

  • 100 BC
    100 AD
  • Barabbas
    c. 50 AD

Original word

  • Βαραββᾶς barabbas
    G912
Citations
“Barabbas.” Theographic Bible Metadata (Viz.Bible). theographic-bible-metadata. Theographic Bible Metadata · CC BY-SA 4.0 Accessed 2026-08-29.
Data credits & licenses

Where Barabbas appears in Scripture

Matthew 27

εἶχον δὲ τότε δέσμιον ἐπίσημον λεγόμενον Βαραββᾶν
16
And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
συνηγμένων οὖν αὐτῶν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος Τίνα θέλετε ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν Βαραββᾶν ἢ Ἰησοῦν τὸν λεγόμενον Χριστόν
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?
Οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἔπεισαν τοὺς ὄχλους ἵνα αἰτήσωνται τὸν Βαραββᾶν τὸν δὲ Ἰησοῦν ἀπολέσωσιν
20
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἡγεμὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Τίνα θέλετε ἀπὸ τῶν δύο ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν οἱ δὲ εἰπον Βαραββᾶν
21
The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
τότε ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν τὸν δὲ Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας παρέδωκεν ἵνα σταυρωθῇ
26
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Mark 15

ἦν δὲ ὁ λεγόμενος Βαραββᾶς μετὰ τῶν συστασιαστῶν δεδεμένος οἵτινες ἐν τῇ στάσει φόνον πεποιήκεισαν
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.
οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς ἀνέσεισαν τὸν ὄχλον ἵνα μᾶλλον τὸν Βαραββᾶν ἀπολύσῃ αὐτοῖς
11
But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν καὶ παρέδωκεν τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας ἵνα σταυρωθῇ
15
And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

Luke 23

ἀνέκραξαν δὲ παμπληθεὶ λέγοντες Αἶρε τοῦτον ἀπόλυσον δὲ ἡμῖν τὸν Βαραββᾶν·
18
And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

John 18

ἐκραύγασαν οὖν πάλιν πάντες λέγοντες Μὴ τοῦτον ἀλλὰ τὸν Βαραββᾶν ἦν δὲ ὁ Βαραββᾶς λῃστής
40
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.