When Jesus was crucified, the gospels tell us that two thieves or criminals were crucified alongside him. But who were these two men? Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says about the thieves who were crucified with Jesus.
What do the gospels say about the thieves crucified with Jesus?
All four gospels mention that Jesus was crucified between two thieves or criminals. Here are the key verses:
- Matthew 27:38 – “Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.”
- Mark 15:27 – “They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.”
- Luke 23:32-33 – “Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.”
- John 19:18 – “They crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.”
So all four gospels agree that Jesus was crucified between two criminals or rebels. But they provide no other biographical details about these two men.
Are the thieves given names in the Bible?
No, the two thieves are not named in Scripture. They are simply referred to as rebels, criminals, thieves, or evildoers. Their precise crimes are not specified either.
What extra-biblical traditions name the thieves?
Although the thieves are unnamed in the Bible, later Christian tradition assigned them names:
- Dismas – The penitent thief who repented and asked Jesus to remember him. In the Orthodox church he is venerated as a saint, Saint Dismas.
- Gestas – The unrepentant thief who mocked Jesus. He is sometimes called the “impenitent thief.”
These names come from the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, likely written in the 4th century AD. But the names Dismas and Gestas were not universally accepted. Other traditions use different names like Zoatham and Camma, or Titus and Dumachus.
What was the conversation between Jesus and the thieves?
According to the Gospel of Luke, one of the thieves mocked Jesus, saying “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39).
But the other thief rebuked him, saying “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:40-42).
Jesus responded to this thief, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
So one thief mocked Jesus while the other had a change of heart and asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus promised that this repentant thief would be with him in paradise.
What can we learn from the two different responses?
The contrasting responses of the two thieves provide some important spiritual lessons:
- Deathbed conversions are possible – even at the last hour, it is not too late to repent and turn to Christ.
- A merciful response – Jesus extended mercy and paradise even to a criminal who repented at the end.
- Mockery and unbelief – some still reject Christ even at the point of death.
- Redemptive suffering – an innocent man suffered alongside guilty ones, transforming one of them.
Overall, the stories of the thieves remind us of the power of Christ’s sacrificial love and the hope of redemption even in our darkest hour.
What is the significance of Jesus’ words to the thief?
When Jesus told the repentant thief “today you will be with me in paradise,” this was very significant. Here are a few key points about these words:
- Salvation by faith – The thief did nothing to earn salvation except express faith in Jesus. This shows we are saved by faith alone.
- Jesus’ divinity – By promising Paradise, Jesus claimed authority to determine the thief’s eternal destiny.
- Afterlife exists – Jesus affirmed there is an afterlife – either paradise with Him or separation from God.
- Accessible Paradise – Jesus opened Paradise to all, not just certain people or ethnic groups.
This powerful statement of salvation and hope came at the darkest moment of Jesus’ earthly mission. Even in agony, He showed grace and opened eternal life to a sincere seeker.
What is the significance of Jesus being crucified between two thieves?
There are several layers of meaning to Jesus being crucified between two criminals:
- Fulfillment of prophecy – Isaiah 53:12 predicted the Messiah would be “numbered with the transgressors.”
- Statement of identification – Jesus identified with the lowest members of society, sinful humanity.
- Display of redemption – One thief was saved, showing Christ’s redemptive power.
- Picture of judgment – One thief mocked Jesus, the other put faith in Him. This foreshadowed the final judgment.
So Jesus being grouped with criminals displayed His identity as the Messiah, identified with sinful people, transformed one rebel’s heart, and previewed the final separation between those who reject and accept Him.
How are the thieves portrayed in art and film?
In artworks and movies about the crucifixion, the thieves are usually portrayed in one of two ways:
Both thieves mocking Jesus
Some older artworks show both thieves mocking Jesus by depicting them both jeering or struggling against their crosses. This ignores the biblical account of one thief repenting. Famous examples include artwork by Titian, Peter Paul Rubens, and Rembrandt.
Contrasting thieves
More recent portrayals show the contrast between the repentant and unrepentant thief mentioned in Luke’s gospel. The unrepentant thief is snarling or defiant, while the repentant one is peaceful or gazing at Jesus in faith. Examples include The Crucifixion paintings by Pablo Picasso and Diego Velázquez.
Most modern films follow this approach in showing the thieves’ differing reactions. A classic example is the contrasting thieves in The King of Kings (1927) played by Sidney D’Albrook and Rudolph Schildkraut.
Conclusion
While the gospels do not provide biographical details about the two criminals crucified with Jesus, later tradition filled in names and other hagiographical backstories. Most importantly, their contrasting interactions with Jesus illustrate themes of deathbed redemption, mercy, judgment, and the power of Christ’s sacrificial love.