Category:Thieves of Golgotha (subject)

The thieves of Golgotha, according to Christian tradition, were crucified with Jesus of Nazareth.

Biography

The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John all claim that Jesus of Nazareth was not crucified alone. Mark, Matthew and Luke specify that they 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.

John does not specify the identity of the "two" and is silent about their attitude toward Jesus.

The Thieves in ancient sources

Later Christian Tradition

In the Gospel of Nicodemus (9:5), also called The Acts of Pilate, the names of the two thieves are mentioned. Pilate says, "Thy nation hath convicted thee as being a king: therefore have I decreed that thou shouldest first be scourged according to the law of the pious emperors, and thereafter hanged upon the cross in the garden wherein thou wast taken: and let Dysmas and Gestas the two malefactors be crucified with thee."

Dysmas would be identified with the good thief of Luke, and Gestas with the unrepentant thief.

The Thieves in Scholarship

The Thieves in Fiction

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