Dismas

Two men were crucified at the same time as Jesus, one on his right and one on his left.  The Gospel of Mark interprets this as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12 (“And he was numbered with the transgressors”). According to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, both of the thieves mocked Jesus; Luke, however, says, “Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us. The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Attempts have been made to reconcile the contradiction between Luke, Mark, and Matthew. Augustine of Hippo suggested Mark and Matthew, used a figure of speech. Others tell us that both the robbers during an early part of the hours of crucifixion reproached Jesus but we learn from St Luke that only one of them used injurious and insulting language to Him

Some prayers recognize the good thief as the only person confirmed as a saint—that is, a person known to be in heaven after death—by the Bible, and by Jesus himself. Only the Gospel of Luke describes one of the criminals as penitent, and that gospel does not name him.  Augustine of Hippo does not name the thief, but wonders if he might not have been baptized at some point.  According to tradition, the Good Thief was crucified to Jesus’ right and the other thief was crucified to his left. For this reason, depictions of the crucifixion of Jesus often show Jesus’ head inclined to his right, showing his acceptance of the Good Thief. According to John Chrysostom, the thief dwelt in the desert and robbed or murdered anyone unlucky enough to cross his path. According to Pope Gregory I, he was guilty of blood, even his brother’s blood.

Luke’s unnamed penitent thief was later assigned the name Dismas The name “Dismas” may have been adapted from a Greek word meaning “sunset” or “death”.The other thief’s name is given as Gestas.