Dismas became a saint. Gestas, on the other hand, is said to have rotten in hell. But who is Gestas in the Bible? In a nutshell, he’s the bad thief crucified next to Jesus. In this post, let’s examine him in-depth.
Who is Gestas in the Bible – Is He Mentioned in the Scripture?
It’s important to note that the name isn’t in the Bible. On the day Christians commemorate as Good Friday, Jesus Christ was crucified on Mount Calvary between two men identified in the Gospel accounts as criminals.
Over the centuries, tradition and apocryphal texts gave these two figures names: Dismas and Gestas. The former is the good thief, while the latter is the bad.
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Saint Dismas is revered. He symbolizes repentance and God’s mercy. Gestas, on the other hand, represents the lack of repentance and rejection of grace, even at the moment of death.
As mentioned, the name isn’t in the canonical Gospels. He appears in several apocryphal writings, especially the Gospel of Nicodemus or the Acts of Pilates and the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy.
These texts offer extra-biblical details. But they’re non-canonical books outside the New Testament canon. The name Gestas is mentioned here for the impenitent thief and the name Dismas for the repentant one.
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Who is Gestas in the Bible? Among the four Gospel accounts, Luke’s Gospel gives the most detailed interaction between Jesus and the thieves.
Luke describes two common criminals crucified with Jesus. One mocks him, saying:
“Are you not Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39)
The other rebukes him:
“Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:40-41
We see the repentant thief, St. Dismas. He acknowledged Christ’s innocence, and his own guilt and asked Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom.
Jesus replies with one of the most beautiful moments of the Gospel.
“Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
Dismas entered into new life and the promise of eternal life. Gestas, the bad thief, on the other hand, is remembered for his scorn and lack of desire to repent.
Gestas hung on the left of Jesus. Dismas, on the other hand, was crucified at his right hand. It’s a symbolic placement reflecting judgment and grace, respectively.
The Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Matthew mentions that both thieves mocked Jesus, though Luke’s Gospel presents a more redemptive narrative.
Scholars suggest that this variance may reflect different emphasis in the gospel accounts, instead of contradictions.
The Apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, a 4th-century text also known as the Acts of Pilate, is one of the primary sources for the name of the impenitent thief.
It names the bad thief Gestas and the good thief Dismas. These names aren’t found in the New Testament accounts of the crucifixion.
These names were widely accepted during the Middle Ages, especially in spiritual reflections and Christian iconography, despite originating in apocryphal texts.
The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy, another apocryphal gospel, includes a curious and touching episode involving the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt. It tells of a band of robbers including Gestas and Dismas, who encounter Saint Joseph, the Virgin Mary, and the infant Jesus.
Gestas is said to be hostile and attempts to rob them. Dismas protects the family. Mary then prophesies that Dismas will receive a great reward at the final judgment.
This story isn’t considered historical or canonical. But it does reinforce the lesson of Saint Dismas and further isolates Gestas as one who consistently rejects goodness.
The apocryphal Arabic infancy Gospel paints Gestas as a figure who, even from a young age, chose selfishness over compassion. It’s a narrative device that highlights the sharp divide between the two men crucified next to the Lord Jesus.
Gestas in Early Church
Church Fathers, such as Saint John Chrysostom, reflected on the thieves as a powerful example of human freedom and the reach of God even at the eleventh hour.
The thieves suffered a painful death under Roman rule. They serve as symbolic representatives of all humanity. One who turns toward God and the other who turns away.
Who is Gestas in the Bible? The fate of Gestas isn’t elaborated upon in any sacred text, canonical or otherwise. His lack of repentance, rejection of God’s mercy, and insults hurled at Jesus in His final hours define him as a tragic figure. He’s a man who, despite being face-to-face with the Son of God, remained hardened.
His cry to Jesus stands in contrast to the humble plea of Dismas. The cry was interpreted in some texts as demanding deliverance on his own terms. Where one sees Jesus only as a means of escape from the temporal world, the other sees a Savior who offers entrance into the heavenly world.
Gestas’ place at the left of Christ has symbolized judgment and rejection. Biblical symbolism associates the right hand with favor and salvation.
In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks for the final judgment, separating people as a shepherd divides sheep from goats. He placed the righteous on the right and the wicked on the left.
The fact that Dismas is on the right of Jesus and Gestas is on the left of Jesus follows this symbolic structure. The positioning itself contributes to understanding the spiritual roles they each fulfill.
Historical Context
Crucifixion under Roman rule was a punishment reserved for the most despised criminals, rebels, and freedom fighters who opposed the empire.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John agree that Jesus was crucified between two other men. It didn’t matter whether they identified as robbers, criminals, or thieves.
The Greek word used in the Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of Mark for these men is “Iestai” often translated as bandits or rebels. This suggests that they may have been part of a band of thieves involved in anti-Roman activity.
This detail may indicate that Gestas and Dismas weren’t petty criminals. Rather, they were participants in a larger insurrection. It further emphasized the injustice of Jesus’ death, having no part in violence or crime.
A Lesson
St. Dismas has become a patron saint of prisoners and penitent sinners. He’s celebrated by the Church on March 25th, which is the traditional date of the Crucifixion.
Gestas serves as a reminder of the danger of grievous fault left unrepented. His rejection of Christ in his final moments stands as a warning against the lack of desire to change, even when grace is offered in its fullest form.
The new life promised to Dismas shows the great hope available even at the last breath. Gestas’ fate remains an open-ended question. It evokes fear and contemplation. Together, the two men frame the final hours of Jesus Christ with meaning. The choice of darkness or light, pride or humility, rejection or forgiveness of sin.
Why Gestas Matters Today?
Who is Gestas in the Bible? He’s more than a background character in the Crucifixion story. Gestas is a mirror to the human condition. His character pushes us to reflect on our own attitudes toward truth, guilt, and grace.
Gestas, in many ways, challenge the modern mind. What do we do when confronted with Christ? Do we respond with openness, like Dismas, or with mockery and defiance, like Gestas?
The story of these two thieves is overshadowed by the grandeur of the Resurrection. It’s one of the most personal, poignant, and powerful examples of the Gospel’s depth. It forces the question, at the moment of death, who will resemble, the one at the right of Jesus or the one at His left?
The Bad Thief to the Left of Jesus
Who is Gestas in the Bible? His story as the bad thief crucified to the left of Jesus. His story offers a sobering yet necessary counterpoint to the redemption of St. Dismas.
Gestas stands as a cautionary figure, even though his story is often overshadowed by Christian devotion. It’s a reminder of the consequences of pride, denial, and the lack of repentance in the final moments of his life.
His defiance in the face of the Lord Jesus, even while sharing in the same painful death, emphasizes the tragedy of a soul unwilling to receive God’s mercy, even when it’s already within reach.
Dismas teaches us the lesson that no one is beyond salvation when they acknowledge Christ’s innocence and their own guilt, and call upon God with sincerity.
The New Testament accounts of the Crucifixion, together with apocryphal texts and Christian tradition, present a vivid tableau of human response to grace.
We see the reality of both judgment and the promise of eternal life. Gestas remains a necessary figure. It’s a warning against hardened hearts and a call to respond to Christ not on our own terms but on His.
Jane is a Roman Catholic on a journey of re-learning about God and deepening her understanding of the Bible. She has over a decade of experience as a copywriter. Her goal is to blend her passion for writing with her spiritual journey. She writes content that doesn’t just uplift but also connects with people who wish to seek a deeper understanding of God’s word. Follow Jane on LinkedIn or Instagram.
