Names of the Two Thieves (According to Tradition):
Dismas – the repentant thief, also called the Good Thief
Gestas – the unrepentant thief
These names are not in the canonical Gospels but come from apocryphal texts, especially the Gospel of Nicodemus (also known as the Acts of Pilate), written in the 4th century.
📖 What the Bible Says:
In Luke 23:39–43, we get this powerful exchange:
Gestas, the unrepentant thief, mocks Jesus:
“Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”Dismas, the repentant thief, rebukes him:
“Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly… but this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he turns to Jesus and says:
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”Jesus replies:
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
This moment is one of the most beautiful examples of grace, mercy, and instant redemption in all of Scripture.
How Did the Thief Become a Saint?
Dismas, the Good Thief, is honored in both the Catholic and Orthodox churches as Saint Dismas.
His feast day is traditionally celebrated on March 25, the same date as the Feast of the Annunciation and believed by some to be the original date of the crucifixion.
He’s considered the patron saint of repentant criminals, prisoners, and even funeral directors.
✨ Why Is His Story So Powerful?
Saint Dismas shows that:
It’s never too late to repent.
A single moment of genuine faith can lead to salvation.
Even in his final moments, Jesus was bringing souls to Paradise.