One of the most remarkable speeches on record is that of the dying robber, addressed partly to his fellow-robber, and partly to Jesus. To the former he said, "Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly: for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss." How did he know that Jesus had done nothing amiss? He could not have learned it as [408] Pilate did, by the course of his trial, for this the robber had not heard; neither had he heard a full account of it. He could not have learned it from the demeanor of Jesus, since the three had been led out together and crucified; for this, remarkable as it was, could not prove that his past life was blameless. He could not have learned it easily after his own arrest and imprisonment; for it is not likely that any friend of Jesus had interviewed him. The only probable supposition is that he had learned it before his own imprisonment.

      While engaged in his nefarious business as a robber, it would suit his plans to mingle with the crowds gathered around Jesus in order to pick out men to rob on their way to their homes; and in this way he would hear Jesus and witness his miracles. He would hear, also, the accusations of the Pharisees, and witness their refutation. Like the publicans and harlots, he would readily believe that this man had done nothing amiss.

      It is not improbable that, under the influence of Jesus, he had abandoned his life as a robber, and had begun to lead a better life before his detection and arrest. In this case his conviction that Jesus had done nothing amiss would be deep and strong, and would need only a suitable occasion to call forth an expression of it. All this helps to account for his speech; for although, when first suspended on the cross, he joined with his fellow in reproaching Jesus, being irritated because his crucifixion was the occasion of crucifying them the same day, the remembrance of what he knew of Jesus accounts for his speedy repentance. As he drew near to the presence of God, he felt ashamed of reproaching one whose life had been free from misdeeds, and he spoke out in his defense. [409]

[SEBC 408-409]