The New Testament does not give personal names for the two men crucified with Jesus; it simply describes them as criminals or robbers executed alongside him, one on his right and one on his left. Later Christian tradition, not the Bible itself, commonly calls them Gestas (the unrepentant thief) and Dismas (the repentant or “Good Thief”).

What the Bible Actually Says

The Gospel accounts focus on what these men were, not who they were by name.

  • John’s Gospel says Jesus was crucified with “two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the middle.”
  • Mark and Matthew describe them as “robbers” or bandits crucified with him, fulfilling the prophecy that the Messiah would be “numbered with the transgressors.”
  • Luke calls them “criminals” and uniquely records that one mocked Jesus while the other acknowledged his own guilt and asked Jesus to remember him.

So, from Scripture alone, they remain unnamed criminals executed by Rome.

Traditional Names: Dismas and Gestas

Over time, Christian tradition and apocryphal (non-biblical) writings supplied names and stories for these two men.

  • In Western Christian tradition:
    • The repentant thief is commonly called Dismas , also known as the “Penitent” or “Good Thief,” and is venerated as a saint in several churches.
* The **unrepentant** thief is often called **Gestas** , remembered as the one who mocked Jesus and demanded to be saved from the cross.
  • These names appear in later writings and church teaching, not in the canonical Gospels themselves.

Because of this, many scholars treat Dismas and Gestas as devotional or legendary names rather than historically verified identities.

Theology and Symbolism of the Two Men

Across centuries, preachers and writers have seen deep symbolism in the two men crucified with Jesus.

  • The two criminals are often said to represent two different human responses to Jesus:
    • One rejects him and demands rescue on his own terms.
    • The other admits guilt, accepts justice, and asks for mercy.
  • Luke’s account highlights this contrast when Jesus tells the repentant thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” which many Christians read as a powerful picture of last-minute repentance and grace.

This symbolic reading has strongly shaped Christian art, sermons, and devotion, even though the men’s real-world biographies remain unknown.

Modern Discussions and Debates

Today, the question “Who were the two men crucified with Jesus?” shows up often in forums, blogs, and Q&A communities.

  • Many discussions emphasize:
    • The difference between what the Bible states (unnamed criminals) and what later tradition adds (Dismas and Gestas).
* Various theories about their background (political rebels, violent bandits, or ordinary thieves), noting that Roman crucifixion was typically reserved for serious offenders and rebels.
  • Some modern writers even explore alternative readings, such as whether more than two others might have been crucified in the broader scene, but these remain minority, interpretive views built from harmonizing Gospel details.

Overall, historians agree that beyond the Gospel descriptions, there is no firm historical evidence to identify these men by name or detailed biography.

Quick Wrap-Up (TL;DR)

  • Biblical answer: Two unnamed criminals/robbers, one on Jesus’ right, one on his left.
  • Traditional answer: The unrepentant thief is called Gestas ; the repentant “Good Thief” is called Dismas , but those names come from later Christian tradition and not from the Bible.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.