(Barabbas was a man who was in prison for his part in a riot in the city and for murder.)
At that time, there was a man named Barabbas in prison who was a rebel and had committed murder during a riot.
But the people shouted together, “Take this man away! Let Barabbas go free!”
They began to accuse Jesus, saying, “We caught this man telling things that mislead our people. He says that we should not pay taxes to Caesar, and he calls himself the Christ, a king.”
Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free and told this to the crowd.
They were insisting, saying, “But Jesus makes trouble with the people, teaching all around Judea. He began in Galilee, and now he is here.”
I thought you were the Egyptian who started some trouble against the government not long ago and led four thousand killers out to the desert.”
You did not want the One who is holy and good but asked Pilate to give you a murderer instead.