81. When Jesus was on the cross what were the names of the two thieves who were crucified with him?

The names, as preserved by legend and tradition, vary according to different writers, and there is no absolutely authentic record on the sub­ject.

One early writer (in the Apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus) gives the name of Demas or Dismas as the penitent, who hung on the right hand of the Saviour, and Gestas as the impenitent.

Bede gives the names of Matha and Joca, respectively, as those that prevailed in his time.

The first, however, have been preserved, and in the hagiology of the Syrian, Greek and Latin churches Dismas is recognized as the pen­itent malefactor. Bengel asserts the belief that Dismas was a Gentile and Gestas a Jew.