Canonical biblical theme
Jesus, Pilate, and Barabbas
Biblical Theology
Themes
Four verses record Pilate’s question and the crowd’s call for Barabbas rather than Jesus called Christ.
These passages portray Pilate presenting a choice between Jesus called Christ and Jesus Barabbas, while the assembled crowd calls for Barabbas’s release. Matthew 27:16 calls Barabbas a notable prisoner, and Matthew 27:17 records Pilate asking which man they wanted released. In Luke 23:18, the crowd cries, “Away with this man,” and asks for Barabbas. John 18:40 repeats their preference for Barabbas and identifies him as a robber.
The word or idea recurs in at least 4 verses across 3 books and 3 episodes.
4
Verses
3
Books
Key verses
Across Scripture
Matthew · Luke · John