The men who under this name appear in the history of the crucifixion were robbers rather than thieves, belonging to the lawless bands by which Palestine was at that time and afterward infested. Against these brigands every Roman procurator had to wage continual war. It was necessary to use an armed police to encounter them. (Luke 22:62) Of the previous history of the two who suffered on Golgotha we know nothing. They had been tried and condemned, and were waiting their execution before our Lord was accused. It is probable enough, as the death of Barabbas was clearly expected at the same time that they had taken part in his insurrection had expected to die with Jesus Barabbas. They find themselves with one who bore the same name, but who was described in the superscription on his cross as Jesus of Nazareth. They could hardly have failed to hear something of his fame as a prophet, of his triumphal entry as a king; They catch at first the prevailing tone of scorn. But over one of them there came a change. He looked back upon his past life, and saw an infinite evil. He looked to the man dying on the cross beside him, and saw an infinite compassion. There indeed was one unlike all other "kings of the Jews" whom the robber had ever known. Such a one must be all that he had claimed to be. To be forgotten by that king seems to him now the most terrible of all punishments; to take part in the triumph of his return, the most blessed of all hopes. The yearning prayer was answered, not in the letter, but in the spirit.

Jesus Hanging on the Cross Between Two Thieves.
... CHAPTER XLI. Jesus hanging on the Cross between two Thieves. ... The height of the
crosses of the two thieves was much less than that of our Lord. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xli jesus hanging on.htm

Christ Prays for his Enemies. -- the Two Thieves.
... CHAPTER VII. THE CRUCIFIXION. Section 291. Christ Prays for his Enemies."
The Two Thieves. When he was fastened to the cross, amid ...
/.../section 291 christ prays for.htm

Whether it was Fitting for Christ to be Crucified with Thieves?
... Hom. lxxxvii in Matth.) that they crucified the two thieves, one on either
side, "that He might be made to share their guilt. But ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was fitting for 4.htm

The Carrying of the Cross.
... executioners put the arms of the crosses, which were a little curbed and not as
yet fastened to the centre pieces, on the backs of the two thieves, and tied ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxx the carrying of.htm

The Opening of the Side of Jesus.
... CHAPTER XLVIII. The Opening of the Side of Jesus. Death of the two thieves. Whilst
these events were taking place in Jerusalem, silence reigned around Calvary. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlviii the opening of.htm

Jesus Condemned to be Crucified.
... and were gone to the Temple, so that Annas, Caiphas, and twenty-eight priests alone
followed the Roman governor on to the forum, and the two thieves were taken ...
/.../chapter xxix jesus condemned to.htm

The Dying Thief
... speak of now"that of the 'daughters of Jerusalem,' that of the deriding scribes
and the indifferent soldiers, and this one of the two thieves"each presents ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the dying thief.htm

Justification by Grace
... Two thieves were with him there; not righteous men, lest any should have said
that the death of those two righteous men helped the Saviour. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/justification by grace.htm

Crucifixion of the Thieves.
... During the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, the two thieves were left lying on
the ground at some distance off; their arms were fastened to the crosses on ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xl crucifixion of the.htm

The Penitent Thief
... Let us look at Christ hanging on the cross between the two thieves. The Scribes
and Pharisees wagged their heads, and jeered at Him. His disciples had fled. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/vii the penitent thief.htm