27:16: Barabbas, Βαραββᾶν.
Bar Abba בר אבא
“son of Abba,” a common personal name.
Babylonian Talmud Berakot 18B: Funds for orphans had been deposited
with the father of Samuel († 254). When his soul entered into rest, Samuel was
not with him. He was called a son who consumes orphan funds (from the deposit).
He went out to his father at the cemetery. He cried out to them (the dead),
“I’m looking for Abba” (so his father was called). They answered, “There are
many Abbas here.” He cried out, “I’m looking for Abba bar Abba!” (Samuels
grandfather was also called Abba.) They answered, “There are also many Abbas
bar Abba here.” He cried out, “I’m looking for Abba bar Abba, the father of
Samuel. Where is he?” They answered, “He has ascended into the heavenly
academy.… (Hermann L. Strack and Paul Billerbeck, A Commentary on
the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash, ed. Jacob N. Cerone, 4 vols.
[trans. Andrew Bowden and Joseph Longarino; Bellingham, Wash.: Lexham Press,
2022], 1:1186)
