John 18:40 kjv
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 18:40 nkjv
Then they all cried again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 18:40 niv
They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.
John 18:40 esv
They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 18:40 nlt
But they shouted back, "No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!" (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)
John 18 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 18:40 | "Then they all cried out again, 'Not this man, but Barabbas!'" | (Jesus' rejection) |
| Matthew 27:20 | "But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd..." | (Leaders instigate crowd) |
| Mark 15:11 | "But the chief priests stirred up the crowd..." | (Leaders instigate crowd) |
| Luke 23:18 | "But the whole crowd cried out for their release, saying..." | (Crowd's demand for Barabbas) |
| Acts 3:14 | "But you denied and killed the Holy and Righteous One..." | (Israel's denial of Christ) |
| Acts 7:52 | "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?..." | (Rejection of God's messengers) |
| Isaiah 53:3 | "He was despised and rejected by men..." | (Prophecy of Messiah's rejection) |
| Psalm 41:9 | "Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread..." | (Betrayal by a close associate) |
| Matthew 26:56 | "But all this has taken place that the Scriptures might be fulfilled..." | (Fulfillment of prophecy) |
| John 1:11 | "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." | (Rejection by his own people) |
| Luke 23:4 | "Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, 'I find no guilt in this man.'" | (Innocence declared) |
| John 19:4 | "Pilate went out again and said to them, 'See, I am bringing him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt in him.'" | (Innocence declared) |
| Mark 15:15 | "So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, handed Jesus over..." | (Pilate succumbs to pressure) |
| John 19:10 | "Pilate then said to him, 'Do you refuse to speak to me?..." | (Jesus' silence) |
| Matthew 27:23 | "But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified." | (Crowd's vehement demand) |
| Psalm 22:12 | "Many bulls encircle me..." | (Suffering in midst of opposition) |
| Luke 23:42 | "Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" | (Redemption even at crucifixion) |
| 1 Peter 2:22 | "He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth." | (Jesus' sinless nature) |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." | (Incarnation) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:23 | "...but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block..." | (Offense of the cross) |
| Galatians 3:13 | "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us..." | (Redemption through sacrifice) |
John 18 verses
John 18 40 Meaning
This verse states that although there was a strong opposition to Jesus, there was no one to support him, emphasizing his abandonment by his own people and followers in his hour of greatest need. It highlights the perceived righteousness of Barabbas in contrast to Jesus by the crowd, a preference that seals Jesus' fate.
John 18 40 Context
This verse is part of the Passion narrative in the Gospel of John, specifically during Jesus' trial before Pilate. Earlier in John 18, Pilate attempted to avoid judging Jesus by sending him to Herod (Luke 23:6-12). Now, Pilate presents a choice to the crowd: release Jesus or release Barabbas, a known criminal and rebel. The chief priests and the crowd, influenced by them, demand Barabbas' release and Jesus' crucifixion, thus rejecting Jesus as their king and deliverer.
John 18 40 Word analysis
- "Then" (Greek: ἔπειτα - epeita): Indicates sequence, a further development in the narrative of the trial.
- "they" (Greek: πᾶς – pas): Refers collectively to the crowd, including the chief priests and elders who had influenced them.
- "all" (Greek: πᾶς – pas): Emphasizes the unity of the crowd's decision and vocalization.
- "cried out" (Greek: ἐφώνουν – ephōnoun): A verb suggesting a loud, vehement shout or clamor, not a reasoned discussion.
- "again" (Greek: πάλιν – palin): Implies this is a repeated demand or intensification of their earlier cries.
- "Not" (Greek: μή – mē): A negative particle, specifically used for prohibiting or negating wishes or commands, conveying strong rejection.
- "this" (Greek: οὗτος – houtos): Points specifically to Jesus, separating him from the other option.
- "man" (Greek: ἄνθρωπος – anthropos): Refers to Jesus, highlighting his humanity in this context, or possibly demeaning him by referring to him as merely "a man."
- "but" (Greek: ἀλλά – alla): A strong adversative conjunction, introducing the contrasting choice.
- "Barabbas" (Greek: Βαραββᾶν – Barabban): The name itself is significant, often interpreted from Aramaic as "son of the father." This starkly contrasts with Jesus, the Son of God.
Word-group analysis:
- "cried out again, 'Not this man, but Barabbas!'": This entire phrase encapsulates the collective rejection of Jesus by the Jewish leadership and a segment of the populace in favor of a notorious criminal. It's a cry of definitive refusal of Jesus' kingship and person.
John 18 40 Bonus section
The name "Barabbas" itself can be seen as significant. Its common interpretation as "son of the father" creates a potent, ironic parallel. The crowd chooses the son of an earthly father, who is a rebel and criminal, over Jesus, the unique Son of the Heavenly Father. This highlights the thematic choice between two different fathers and two different kingdoms. The release of Barabbas, a symbol of rebellion and earthly liberation, over Jesus, the bringer of spiritual freedom and heavenly kingdom, is a central theme of the Gospels.
John 18 40 Commentary
The crowd's vehement cry reveals the depth of their rejection, prioritizing a seditious criminal over the Prince of Peace. This decision, fueled by misguided religious leaders, tragically seals Jesus' fate, illustrating humanity's preference for the familiar and the rebellious over divine truth and salvation. It highlights the scandal of the cross—that God's chosen King was scorned by those He came to save, while a criminal was set free. This underscores the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts that opposed Jesus, fulfilling prophetic foreshadowings of His suffering and rejection.