What does Luke 23:19 mean?
Pilate is doing almost everything he can to release Jesus. What he won't do is take responsibility for his position and make an authoritative decision. Jesus is innocent. Pilate knows it (Luke 23:4), Herod Antipas knows it (Luke 23:15), and Jesus' accusers know it (Mark 15:10). The governor has offered to beat Jesus before releasing Him (Luke 23:16). Now, he tries one last tactic. It is tradition that he release one prisoner during Passover. He gives the crowd a choice: Jesus or Barabbas (Matthew 27:17).Pilate's choice has three interesting implications.
First, his options are one man who is innocent of stirring up the people and another man who is guilty of insurrection and murder. The Jewish leaders and the crowd claim Jesus needs to die because He has led the people to rebel against Rome (Luke 23:1–5). Barabbas is unquestionably guilty. If the assembled mob chooses Barabbas, they reveal their true hearts (Matthew 27:18).
Second, Pilate not only knows Jesus is innocent (Luke 23:14), but his wife told him about her dream and its caution not to harass Jesus (Matthew 27:19). If Pilate offers a choice, and the Jews choose Jesus, Pilate may think he is morally absolved of Jesus' murder (Matthew 27:24).
Third, "Barabbas" means "son of the father." It may mean that he resembles his father in some way. Jesus is the perfect image of God the Father. His life reveals the nature, love, and righteousness of God (John 1:14–18; 14:7, 9; Colossians 1:15). The comparison is even deeper in that many manuscripts indicate that Barabbas's given name is also Iēsous. This is from the Hebrew Yeshua: translated as "Joshua" in the Old Testament and "Jesus" in the New Testament. Do the people want Jesus as He truly is, or a "Jesus" more like them? If they tell Pilate to release Barabbas, they are choosing to honor fallen man—both Barabbas and themselves (Matthew 27:18)—over their God.
