I.e., son of Abba or of a father, a notorious robber whom Pilate proposed to condemn to death instead of Jesus, whom he wished to release, in accordance with the Roman custom ([John 18:40](/john#John.18.40); [Mark 15:7](/mark#Mark.15.7); [Luke 23:19](/luke#Luke.23.19)). But the Jews were so bent on the death of Jesus that they demanded that Barabbas should be pardoned ([Matt. 27:16-26](/matt#Matt.27.16); [Acts 3:14](/acts#Acts.3.14)). This Pilate did.