Matt 27:16; Mar 15:7 they had .. prisoner .. named B
Luk 23:18 Away with this one, and release B to us!
Joh 18:40 not this one, but B, and B was a thief
Barabbas (Gr. Barabbas; transliteration of Aram. Bar ‘Abbâ*, “son of the father”; Jerome’s interpretation that it came from Aram. Bar Rabban, “son of the rabbi’) is not generally accepted. Jewish criminal who on the occasion of the trial of Jesus before Pilate was in prison for robbery and murder. When Pilate offered to release Jesus or Barabbas, the Jews chose Barabbas (Mat 27:16-26; Mar 15:7-15; Luk 23:18; Joh 18:40).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
son of father or teacher. Individual acclaimed in the gospels as a bandit, robber, mutineer, who was imprisoned for murder in Jerusalem.
When Jesus was brought before Pilate and since it was customary to release a prisoner for Easter, the Roman prosecutor had the mob choose who would be released, Jesus or B., and the people pointed to the latter, Mt 27, 15- 26; Mark 15, 6-15; Lk 23, 13-25; Jn 18, 38-40.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
(Gr., Barabbas, for the Aramaic Bar-abba, son of the father, or teacher). A criminal chosen by the Jerusalem mob, instigated by the chief priests, in preference to Christ, to be released by Pilate at the Passover feast. He was a famous prisoner (Mat 27:16), arrested with others for robbery, sedition and murder (Mar 15:15; Luk 23:18; Joh 18:40).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
Thief released instead of Jesus. Mat 27:16, Mar 27:16, Lk. 23, Jn. 18.
Christian Bible Dictionary
Dr. J. Dominguez
http://bible.com/dictionary/
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
(Father’s son). Character who was in prison when the Lord Jesus was brought to trial before Pilate. He was † œa famous prisoner †. Pilate † œused to… release a prisoner to the people † and wanting to set Christ free, † œbecause he knew that out of envy they had handed him over †, he asked the crowd which one he should set free. The people cried out for him to release B. (Mat 27:15-26). B. was accused of mutiny. With several other people, prisoners with him, “had committed murder in a riot” (Mar 15:7; Luk 23:19). He was also a thief (John 18:40). Peter, in one of his sermons, reminds the people: † œYou denied the Holy One and the Just One, and asked that a murderer be given to you † (Acts 3:14).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG HOMB HONT
vet, = “father’s son”. Described as a “thief” (Jn. 18:40) and “a famous prisoner” (Mt. 27:16). He had led an insurrection and committed murder (Mark 15:7). Faced with the dilemma of choosing between him and the Lord Jesus, the Jews, instigated by the chief priests and elders, asked for the release of this man, and death for Jesus. This choice clearly manifested their wickedness and hardness of heart. Peter did not miss an opportunity to present this fact accusingly to the Jews: “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked that a murderer be given you” (Acts 3:14).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Name that is popularly given to someone who is a criminal, despite the fact that etymologically it does not mean anything other than son (bar) of father (abbâ).
Some ancient manuscripts attribute in this name to the bandit or criminal compared by Pilate with Jesus and released. (Mt. 27.16; Mk. 15. 6)
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
His full name is Jesús Barrabás (Mt 27,16). Famous criminal, gang leader, revolutionary (Mk 15,7), murderer (Lk 23,19; Act 3,14), bandit and thief (Jn 18,40). On the occasion of Easter, a prisoner was given freedom -a privilege that the Romans granted to the Jews-, the one that the people asked for. The Jews preferred that Pilate give freedom to Barabbas and not to Jesus (Mt 27,17; Mk 15,11; Lk 23,25; Jn 18,40).
MNE
FERNANDEZ RAMOS, Felipe (Dir.), Dictionary of Jesus of Nazareth, Editorial Monte Carmelo, Burbos, 2001
Source: Dictionary of Jesus of Nazareth
(Son of the Father; possibly: Son of the Master).
The imprisoned criminal, guilty of assault, sedition, and murder, whom Pilate set free in place of Jesus. Pilate did so † “desiring to satisfy the crowd †, which clamored for his release due to the insistence of the chief priests and elders. (Mt 27:15-26; Mr 15:6-15; Lu 23:16-25; Jo 18:39, 40; Ac 3:14.)
This unusual custom of releasing a prisoner each year on Passover eve has no basis or precedent in the Hebrew Scriptures, and there is no extrabiblical evidence that it was a Roman custom. It must have been a custom of the Jews, for Pilate told them: “It is your custom that I release a man to you at the passover.” (Joh 18:39.)
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
A bandit (Jn. 18.40), arrested for homicidal political terrorism (Mr. 15.7; Lc. 23.18s). The language used by Mark could indicate a well-known incident, and the epithet “famous” (Mt. 27.16) a certain reputation as some kind of hero. The priests, possibly echoing an initial demand from his followers (cf. Mr. 15.8), organized a movement to secure his release in opposition to Pilate’s intention to offer Jesus’ (Mt. 27.20; Mr. 15.11), and thus Barabbas became an exemplification of the effects of the substitutionary atonement.
This name is a patronymic (“son of Abba”). He appears as “Jesus Barabbas” (cf. “Simon BarJonah”, °vm mg) in some authorities in the case of Mt. 27.16s, and Origenes in loc. mentions that it is an old reading. He adds poignancy to Pilate’s offer: “Jesus Barabbas or Jesus Christ?” But as interesting as it is, it is something that has to remain uncertain.
The privilege of releasing a prisoner at Passover time receives independent confirmation from both Mark and John, but it is not clear. Blinzler associates it with the Mishnah, Pesaḥim 8.6, which states that the Paschal lamb can be offered “by someone who has been promised to be released from prison.”
Bibliography. Deissmann in GKA Bell and A. Deissmann, Mysterium Christi, pp. 12ff (for the text: against, cf. MJ Lagrange, S. Mathieu, pp. 520ff); HA Rigg, JBL 64, 1945, p. 417ff; CEB Cranfield, St Mark, pp. 449ff; J. Blinzler, The Trial of Jesus, 1959, p. 218ff; F. F. Bruce, New Testament History, 1971, pp. 203ff.
AFW
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary