Luke 23:18-19

Luke 23:18-19

[18] And  they cried out  all at once,  saying,  Away with  man, and  release  Barabbas:  [19] (Who  a certain  sedition  made  in  the city,  and  for murder,  was cast  prison.) 

What does Luke 23:18-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Luke"s version of the trial has the Jewish leaders and people ( Luke 23:13) rejecting what was just and demanding the release of a man who was the antithesis of Jesus. Pilate had justified Jesus of the charge of leading an insurrection, but Barabbas was guilty of that crime. Jesus had gone about healing and restoring people to life, but Barabbas had murdered them. This description shows the great guilt of the Jews in demanding Jesus" death (cf. Acts 2:22-23; Acts 21:36). The people allowed their leaders to influence them to demand a perversion of justice.
"They would rather be with a well-known sinner than with the One who could forgive their sins." [1]