BARABBAS (bar-ăb'ăs, Gr. Barabbas, for Aramaic Bar-abba, son of the father, or teacher). A criminal chosen by the Jerusalem mob, at the instigation of the chief priests, in preference to Christ, to be released by Pilate on the feast of the Passover. Matthew calls him a notorious prisoner, and the other evangelists say he was arrested with others for robbery, sedition, and murder (Matt.27.16; Mark.15.15; Luke.23.18; John.18.40). The custom here mentioned of releasing a prisoner on the Passover is otherwise unknown. The reading “Jesus Barabbas” for his full name in Matt.27.16-Matt.27.17 was found by Origen in many MSS and is still found in some early versions and a few cursives. It is probably due to a scribe’s error in transcription.