Category:Thieves of Golgotha (subject)

BACK TO THE PEOPLE--INDEX

The Thieves of Golgotha, according to Christian tradition, were "two brigands" crucified with Jesus of Nazareth.

Overview

The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John all claim that Jesus of Nazareth was not crucified alone (see Crucifixion of Jesus). Mark, Matthew and Luke specify that there were "two brigands." According to Mark and Matthew, they both "taunted" Jesus, while Luke says that one insulted him, while the other asked for forgiveness and was forgiven by Jesus. John does not specify the identity of the "two" and is silent about their attitude toward Jesus.

In the Gospels, the Thieves are unnamed. The names of the Good and the Unrepentant Thief, Dysmas and Gestas, or Titus and Dumachus, come from the later Christian tradition (the Gospel of Nicodemus and the Arabic Infancy Gospel, respectively). The latter document adds a tale about how Titus prevented the other thieves in his company from robbing Mary and Joseph during their flight into Egypt.

In the Russian tradition, the Good Thief's name is neither Dysmas nor Titus, but Rakh.