Barabbas (1961) Plot Summary Explained

According to Roman custom during Passover, the governor would release one prisoner as a pardon. Pontius Pilate offered the crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a known revolutionary and murderer. The crowd, stirred up by the priests, chose to release Barabbas and condemned Jesus to crucifixion. This choice set the entire story in motion, leaving Barabbas with the weight of knowing an innocent man died in his place.

• pardon
• pilate
• crowd
• jesus
• passover
• release

When Rachel tells Barabbas that Christ has risen on the third morning, he dismisses it as either an illusion or a theft by Jesus' followers. Barabbas struggles with faith throughout the film because he cannot reconcile how God could choose to save a violent criminal like himself while allowing an innocent man to die. His doubt stems from guilt and his inability to understand divine mercy.

• resurrection
• doubt
• faith
• rachel
• jesus

Barabbas is consumed by guilt over surviving when Jesus died. Unable to live with the weight of his pardon, he returns to his old ways and attempts to rob a caravan. This act leads to his capture and subsequent sentence to the sulfur mines. His regression to crime represents his internal struggle and feeling that he does not deserve the mercy he received.

• guilt
• crime
• capture
• robbery
• mines

Pilate cannot execute Barabbas because he has already been pardoned, which makes executing him legally problematic. Instead, he sentences Barabbas to lifelong slavery in the sulfur mines of Sicily. This punishment allows Barabbas to survive but endure continuous suffering, which Pilate likely viewed as a more fitting irony for someone who escaped crucifixion.

• pilate
• sentence
• slavery
• mines
• execution
• pardon

Sahak is a Christian sailor who was sent to the sulfur mines for helping slaves escape. He is chained to Barabbas and initially hates him because Barabbas was pardoned while 'the Master' (referring to Jesus) was crucified. Over twenty years in the mines, the two men develop a friendship, with Sahak's faith eventually influencing Barabbas.

• sahak
• christian
• sailor
• mines
• chained
• friend

An earthquake destroys the sulfur mine, killing most of the prisoners. Barabbas and Sahak survive, and Julia, the superstitious wife of the local prefect, considers them blessed. The prefect takes them to Rome, believing they will bring good luck. This event marks a turning point that propels Barabbas toward his ultimate fate in Rome.

Foreshadowing: The earthquake sets up Barabbas' journey to Rome where the final events occur.

• earthquake
• mines
• rescue
• julia
• rome
• prefect

After being taken to Rome, Barabbas and Sahak are forced into gladiator training by Torvald. Barabbas enters this violent world to gain freedom, as gladiators who survived could earn their liberty. The arena becomes the setting where his ultimate test of faith and survival takes place.

• gladiator
• rome
• training
• torvald
• freedom
• arena

Sahak continues to share his Christian faith with other gladiators, which is considered treason because Christianity was not a state-sanctioned religion. Torvald executes Sahak for practicing and spreading this non-approved faith. His death deeply affects Barabbas and further shapes his spiritual journey.

• sahak
• execution
• faith
• christianity
• torvald
• treason

Barabbas is forced to fight Torvald in the arena. He defeats and kills Torvald, earning the favor of Emperor Nero, who then grants Barabbas his freedom. This victory represents Barabbas' transition from a prisoner fighting for survival to a free man who must decide what to do with his newfound liberty.

• nero
• freedom
• arena
• torvald
• victory
• emperor

When Barabbas emerges to find Rome burning, he believes the end of the world has come due to apocalyptic warnings he has heard. Convinced that the Great Fire is a sign of apocalypse, he sets fire to more buildings. This act leads to his imprisonment with the Christians, including the apostle Peter.

• rome fire
• arson
• apocalypse
• christians
• peter
• persecution

Barabbas is imprisoned with several Christians, including the apostle Peter, after the Great Fire. Peter admonishes him for committing arson and reminds him that Christians would never start fires or harm others. This confrontation with Peter marks a crucial moment in Barabbas' spiritual transformation.

• peter
• imprisonment
• christians
• admonish
• arson
• apostle

Barabbas is crucified alongside other Christians during the persecutions. His final words, 'Darkness... I give myself up into your keeping... It is Barabbas', represent his acceptance of faith and his surrender to God. Having been spared crucifixion once, he ultimately chooses to die as a Christian, completing his spiritual journey from doubt to belief.

• crucifixion
• death
• faith
• confession
• christian
• final words