John 18:40

40 All they cried again, and said [saying], Not this, but Barabbas. And Barabbas was a thief.

John 18:40 Meaning and Commentary

John 18:40

Then cried they all again
For it seems that Pilate had made this proposal once before, and that this was the second time, though not mentioned; yet some copies, and the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, leave out the word "again": they all, priests and people, in a very clamorous manner, cried out as one man, with one united voice, all at once; saying, not this man, but Barabbas; now Barabbas was a robber;
who was an emblem of God's elect in a state of nature, released and set free when Christ was condemned. These, as he, many of them at least, are notorious sinners, the chief of sinners, robbers and murderers; who have robbed God of his glory, and destroyed themselves; are prisoners, concluded in sin and unbelief, and shut up in the law, and in a pit, wherein is no water, in their natural state; and were, as this man, worthy of death, and by nature children of wrath; and yet children of God by adopting grace, as his name Bar Abba signifies, "the son of the father": these, though such criminals, and so deserving of punishment, were let go free, when Christ was taken, condemned, and died; and which was according to the wise and secret counsel of Jehovah, and is a large discovery of divine grace; and what lays those who are released under the greatest obligations to live to him, who suffered for them, in their room and stead.

John 18:40 In-Context

38 Pilate saith to him, What is truth? And when he had said this thing, again he went out to the Jews, and said to them, I find no cause in him [I find no cause against him].

39 But it is a custom to you, that I deliver one to you in pask; therefore will ye that I deliver to you the king of Jews? [Forsooth it is a custom to you, that I let go, or deliver, one to you in pask; therefore will ye that I dismiss to you the king of Jews?]

40 All they cried again, and said [saying], Not this, but Barabbas. And Barabbas was a thief.