A.T. Robertson Commentary John 18:40

"They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.)" — John 18:40 (ASV)

Cried out (εκραυγασαν). First aorist active of κραυγαζω, old and rare verb from κραυγη, outcry (Matthew 25:6), as in Mt 12:19.

Not this man (μη τουτον). Contemptuous use of ουτος. The priests put the crowd up to this choice and Pilate offered the alternative (Matthew 27:17, one MS. actually gives Jesus as the name of Barabbas also). The name Βαραββας in Aramaic simply means son of a father.

A robber (ληιστης). Old word from ληιζομα, to plunder, and so a brigand and possibly the leader of the band to which the two robbers belonged who were crucified with Jesus. Luke terms him an insurgent and murderer (Luke 23:19,25). They chose Barabbas in preference to Jesus and apparently Jesus died on the very cross planned for Barabbas.