Theimpenitent thief is a man described in theNew Testament account of thecrucifixion of Jesus. In the Gospel narrative, two bandits are crucified alongside Jesus. In the first two Gospels (Matthew andMark), they both join the crowd in mocking him. In theGospel of Luke, however, one taunts Jesus about not saving himself and them, and the other (known as thepenitent thief) asks for mercy.[1][2][3]
Inapocryphal writings, the impenitent thief is given the nameGestas, which first appears in theGospel of Nicodemus, while his companion is called Dismas. Christian tradition holds that Gestas was on the cross to the left of Jesus and Dismas was on the cross to the right of Jesus. InJacobus de Voragine'sGolden Legend, the name of the impenitent thief is given asGesmas. The impenitent thief is sometimes referred to as the "bad thief" in contrast to the good thief.
The apocryphalArabic Infancy Gospel refers to Gestas and Dismas asDumachus and Titus, respectively. According to tradition – seen, for instance, inHenry Wadsworth Longfellow'sThe Golden Legend[4] – Dumachus was one of a band of robbers who attackedSaint Joseph and theHoly Family on theirflight into Egypt.
Theearliest version of the story is considered to be that in theGospel of Mark,[5][3][6] usually dated toc. AD 70.[5] The author says that two bandits were crucified with Jesus, one on each side of him. The passersby and chief priests mock Jesus for claiming to be the Messiah and yet being unable to save himself, and the two crucified with him join in.[7][3] Some texts include a reference to theBook of Isaiah, citing this as a fulfilment of prophecy (Isaiah 53:12: "And he... was numbered with the transgressors").[8] TheGospel of Matthew, writtenc. 85,[5] repeats the same details.[9]
In theGospel of Luke fromc. 80 – c. 90,[5] the details are varied: one of the thieves rebukes the other for mocking Jesus, and asks Jesus to remember him "when You come into Your kingdom". Jesus replies by promising him that he will be with him that same day in Paradise.[10][3]Holy tradition has given this bandit the epithet of thepenitent thief and the other the impenitent thief.
TheGospel of John, thought to be writtenc. 90 – c. 95,[5] also says that Jesus was crucified with two others, but in this account they are not described in more detail and their words are not recorded.[11]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Wood, James, ed. (1907). "Dumachus".The Nuttall Encyclopædia. London and New York: Frederick Warne.
Media related toGestas at Wikimedia Commons