Introduction: The Inversion of Justice
Mark 15:15 includes this concise but pivotal clause:
ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν —
“He released Barabbas to them.”
This clause marks a dramatic reversal: Barabbas, a known insurrectionist (Mark 15:7), is set free, while Yeshuʿ, the innocent one, is delivered to death. The verb ἀπέλυσεν {apelusen} is drawn from legal vocabulary, but in this context it functions with narrative irony and theological gravity.
Ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος βουλόμενος τῷ ὄχλῳ τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν, καὶ παρέδωκε τὸν Ἰησοῦν φραγελλώσας. ἵνα σταυρωθῇ..
Let us explore the phrase:
ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοῖς τὸν Βαραββᾶν — “he released Barabbas to them.”
This clause contains a judicial verb, ἀπέλυσεν (aorist active indicative of ἀπολύω), which is frequently used in legal contexts for the release or acquittal of a prisoner. Here, it’s not just a report of action—it’s a forensic statement, embedded with irony: the guilty is freed, the innocent is condemned.
Morphological Breakdown of ἀπέλυσεν
- ἀπέλυσεν {apelusen} –
Root: ἀπολύω {apoluō};
Form: aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular;
Tense: aorist (completed action);
Voice: active;
Mood: indicative (factual);
Meaning: “he released,” “he let go,” “he set free (legally).”
Usage: common in legal contexts, especially for dismissal of charges, release of a prisoner, or setting someone free.
Syntactical Analysis: Judicial Release with Indirect Object
The structure is as follows:
– Verb: ἀπέλυσεν (“he released”)
– Indirect object: αὐτοῖς (“to them,” i.e., the crowd)
– Direct object: τὸν Βαραββᾶν (“Barabbas”)
The phrase indicates that Pilate acted on behalf of the crowd, not on the basis of justice. The dative pronoun αὐτοῖς shows that this was a concession to their demand, not an act of impartial judgment.
Semantic and Theological Implications
The verb ἀπολύω in the Gospels is used both:
– Neutrally: releasing someone from obligation (e.g., Luke 2:29)
– Legally: releasing a prisoner or dismissing charges (cf. Luke 23:17, Acts 3:13)
Here, the release is not based on innocence but on political expedience (cf. τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι). Thus:
– Barabbas becomes a symbol of substitution: the guilty freed so the righteous can die.
– The crowd receives what it demands, but not what is just.
– Pilate’s action represents a mockery of law—his own conscience is overridden by public pressure.
Literary and Narrative Significance
The release of Barabbas sits at the climactic moment of trial:
– It sets up the final transfer of Jesus to crucifixion.
– It intensifies the irony of the Gospel: the Son of God is condemned while a murderous rebel is spared.
– It dramatizes the exchange at the heart of the passion narrative.
In Mark’s Gospel, this action is not accidental. The choice between Barabbas and Jesus invites the reader to consider:
– Who do we prefer?
– What kind of kingdom are we drawn to?
He Released Barabbas
The aorist verb ἀπέλυσεν carries more than past action—it conveys the scandal of mercy misplaced, and justice reversed. But in that reversal lies the heart of the Gospel:
– The guilty walks free,
– The righteous is punished,
– And through that judicial irony, redemption begins.
The grammar testifies:
Barabbas was released—so that we might be, too.
