O Ladrão
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
This word presents no difficulty. It occurs only twice in the NT, where it refers to the two malefactors led with Jesus to Calvary “to be executed” and to St. Paul in prison, enduring sufferings and humiliation “even chains, like a malefactor” (2 Tim 2:9; cf. Gos. Pet. 26). But it is interesting to ask what sort of delinquent or criminal is meant.
History Of 253 Converts
Dr. Horatius Bonar said concerning the spiritual history of 253 converts with whom he was familiar. “Saved under 20 years of age, 138; between 20 and 30 years, 85; between 30 and 40 years, 22; between 40 and 50 years, 4; between 50 and 60, 3; between 60 and 70 years, 1; over seventy, NOT ONE!”