Volume 11 · Chapter 60

BARABBAS WHILE the disciples were still expressing their opinion about what they had heard, we saw that a number of men, obviously prisoners, were taken between a troop of soldiers. These several people acted contrary to the laws of Rome and had to be brought now to Pilate in Jerusalem to be sentenced according to the laws of Rome.

[GGJ.11_60,02] One of them was heavily bound between 2 soldiers that walked with a drawn sword next to him, ready to hit him down at any attempt to escape.

[GGJ.11_60,03] Philip asked Me what that furious looking man had actually done and who he was.

[GGJ.11_60,04] I answered him: “He also is an instrument of God, just like all of you are, even though he did not put his qualities in the service of the Father. He must serve to glorify the Son, just as you are called to spread His work.”

[GGJ.11_60,05] The others were surprised and asked Me what I meant.

[GGJ.11_60,06] I did not give them an answer to that question because very soon the facts would give them the answer.

[GGJ.11_60,07] The prisoner, who was taken away and sharply guarded, was a leader of the predatory inhabitants of the desert who did not want to submit to the laws of the Romans and who had so many hiding places in the desert that the Roman justice could not grab them, just like the tribes that are now staying in the south of Palestine and in the east of the Jordan, living there independently and who mock the Turkish authority.

[GGJ.11_60,08] The name of this man was Barabbas, was very audacious and reckless and involved in already many fights with the Romans when they sent out troops to capture the leader. He was famous amongst the people because of his recklessness by which he always came safely through all dangers so that all kinds of stories arose about his personality, as also often happened in later centuries with these kinds of characters.

[GGJ.11_60,09] Despite his raids of robbery he was considered to be someone with a noble character who never hurt the little man and would protect him as far as his power would reach. But he was a sworn enemy of the rich and especially of the Romans who wanted to subdue him. That is why he was highly esteemed among the Jews because they also hated the Romans. He even found a certain protection in the temple because they hoped via Barabbas to gain influence with the Arab people.

[GGJ.11_60,10] But when he became too audacious and attacked a Roman convoy that traveled to Petra with money and treasures for the proconsul there, a Roman general set up a trap for him, and after great resistance he was captured. In the battle that took place, Barabbas killed the son of the governor of Petra, and after being accused of rebellion and murder he was send to Jerusalem to be sentenced by Pontius Pilate.

[GGJ.11_60,11] This Barabbas was first brought to the general court in Jerusalem and then, after questioning the witnesses and many charges were laid out against him, he would be delivered to the Roman court. But as long as this did not happen, Pontius Pilate, as the supreme ruler over Judea, had absolute authority over him and had only to give an account of his acts to the emperor.