Barabbas, who was formally named Jesus bar-Abbas, was a man convicted of murder during an insurrection who was set to be crucified at the same time as Jesus Christ. As per custom, Pontius Pilate asked the crowd who they wanted to release, and the crowd answered, "Barabbas." Pilate asked, "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" And the crowd responded, "Crucify him!" Pilate, knowing that the chief priests wanted Him dead because of their jealousy, and not because He had actually earned a death sentence, asked, "Why? What crime has he committed?" And the crowd shouted even louder, "Crucify him!" And so, Barabbas went free, and Jesus Christ was flogged and crucified.
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