Mark 15:7

7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.

Mark 15:7 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 15:7

And there was one named Barabbas
A prisoner of that name at Jerusalem;

which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him:
he had been at the head of a seditious mob, and he and his accomplices were taken and put in prison:

who had committed murder in the insurrection;
which may be connected either with Barabbas, and read in the singular number, as it is in the Vulgate Latin version, "he had committed"; or with the seditious persons he lay bound with, and be read in the plural number, "they had committed murder", as it is in the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions; and so in the ancient copies; and the Ethiopic renders it, "he was bound with seditious persons and murderers"; though, no doubt, he was guilty of murder as well as they; and so Peter calls him a murderer, ( Acts 3:14 ) . About this time murders were very frequently committed: the Jews say F18 that

``from the time that murderers increased, the slaying of the red heifer ceased; (the reason the commentators F19 give, is, because they were known who were accustomed to commit murder;) and that was from the time that Eleazar ben Dinai came, and Techinah ben Perishah he was called; and they called him again the son of a murderer;''

(See Gill on Matthew 27:16).


FOOTNOTES:

F18 Misn. Sota, c. 9. sect. 9. Maimon. Hilch. Rotzeach. c. 9. sect. 12.
F19 Jarchi & Bartienora in ib.

Mark 15:7 In-Context

5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
6 Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked.
7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.
8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom.
9 Then he answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.