And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word "paradise" here refers not just to a pleasant garden, but to the ultimate abode of the blessed. Jesus' promise to the thief emphasizes immediate entry into this place of divine pleasure and God's presence, highlighting a dramatic rescue from eternal despair.
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, hanging on the cross between two criminals, is mocked by the crowds and the soldiers. One of the criminals joins in the taunting, but the other rebukes him, confesses his own guilt and Jesus' innocence, and asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. This act of faith and repentance from a condemned man is met with Jesus' immediate and powerful promise of salvation.
What comes to mind when you hear the word 'paradise'? It’s a word that evokes images of beauty and peace, but its meaning in the Bible goes even deeper.
The word 'paradise' originally described a lush, enclosed royal garden in ancient Persia. It carried connotations of beauty, pleasure, and abundance.
From Royal Gardens to Heaven
Jesus' promise to the thief is striking for its immediacy. Why 'today' and what does that imply about God's grace?
Jesus' use of 'today' (Greek: semeron) is powerful and intentional. It cuts through any notion of delay or a distant future.
An Immediate Transformation
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In the midst of immense suffering, Jesus' focus wasn't just on a place, but on a Person. What does His inclusion of Himself mean?
The most profound aspect of Jesus' promise is the emphasis on His own presence: 'you will be with me in paradise.'
Presence Over Place
Understand the original words
paradeisos · Greek Noun
A term of Persian origin used in the New Testament to describe the abode of the blessed dead, representing the presence of God and the state of eternal joy and rest for believers immediately following death.
The promise to the thief at the cross was immediate, with 'paradise' understood as a place of blessedness for departed souls, directly contrasting with the harsh realities of crucifixion and the impending Sabbath.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is crucified along with two criminals. The events are witnessed by a crowd, including Roman soldiers and Jewish leaders.
c. 30 AD
Roman soldiers hasten deaths
Roman soldiers break the legs of the two criminals to ensure their deaths before the Sabbath, a practice to speed up crucifixion.
c. 30 AD
Centurion's confession
The Roman centurion in charge of the crucifixion, witnessing Jesus' demeanor and the events surrounding his death, declares, "Certainly this man was innocent" and later, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
c. 30 AD
Jesus' body taken down
After Jesus' death is confirmed, his body is taken down from the cross, likely before sunset to avoid desecrating the upcoming Sabbath.
This passage describes the Garden of Eden, the original 'paradise' from which humanity fell, setting the stage for the ultimate restoration promised by Jesus.
Luke 16:22-23The parable of the rich man and Lazarus shows a contrast between the suffering of the wicked and the comfort of the righteous (in 'Abraham's bosom') after death, illustrating the immediate reality of a blessed afterlife.
2 Corinthians 12:4Paul describes being caught up into 'paradise,' showing that this is a real, heavenly dwelling place for the redeemed, not just a metaphorical state.
Revelation 2:7This verse promises that those who overcome will eat from the 'tree of life in the paradise of God,' linking Jesus' promise to the ultimate eternal destiny of believers.
Philippians 1:23Paul expresses his deep longing 'to depart and be with Christ,' which is far better, directly echoing the penitent thief's immediate experience of being with Jesus in paradise.
vincentLuke 23:43: "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
In Paradise (παραδείσῳ)Originally an enclosed park, or pleasure-ground. Xenophon uses it of the parks of the Persian kings and nobles. "There (at Celaenae) Cyrus had a palace and a great park (παράδεισος), full of wild animals, which he hunted on horseback....Through the midst of the park flows the river Maeander ("Anabasis," i., 2, 7). And again' "The Greeks encamped near a great and bea…
clarkeLuke 23:43: "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise - Marcion and the Manichees are reported to have left this verse out of their copies of this evangelist. This saying of our Lord is justly considered as a strong proof of the immateriality of the soul; and it is no wonder that those who have embraced the contrary opinion should endeavor to explain away this meaning. In order to do this, a comma is pla…
The word "paradise" here refers not just to a pleasant garden, but to the ultimate abode of the blessed. Jesus' promise to the thief emphasizes immediate entry into this place of divine pleasure and God's presence, highlighting a dramatic rescue from eternal despair.
Jesus, hanging on the cross between two criminals, is mocked by the crowds and the soldiers. One of the criminals joins in the taunting, but the other rebukes him, confesses his own guilt and Jesus' innocence, and asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. This act of faith and repentance from a condemned man is met with Jesus' immediate and powerful promise of salvation.
Jesus, hanging on the cross between two criminals, is mocked by the crowds and the soldiers. One of the criminals joins in the taunting, but the other rebukes him, confesses his own guilt and Jesus' innocence, and asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. This act of faith and repentance from a condemned man is met with Jesus' immediate and powerful promise of salvation.
"And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”" — The word "paradise" here refers not just to a pleasant garden, but to the ultimate abode of the blessed. Jesus' promise to the thief emphasizes immediate entry into this place of divine pleasure and…
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Last reviewed October 2026