Bible Strands
Luke 23:42
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — One of the two criminals crucified beside Jesus speaks to Him from the cross, immediately after acknowledging his own guilt and Jesus' innocence (Luke 23:41).
The words — μνῆσθητί (mnēsthēti) is an aorist passive imperative: "do remember," a single decisive act of recollection directed at Jesus. The Greek also contains κύριε (kurie, "Lord"), which the BSB omits in favor of the name "Jesus."
The thread — The confession of Jesus as Lord parallels Romans 10:9 and Acts 16:31, where saving faith is framed as believing in the Lord Jesus. The resulting promise of eternal life in the Son echoes 1 John 5:11.
Why it lands — The criminal offers no works, no ritual, no status—only a plea—and receives a direct promise (Luke 23:43). The verse asks the reader to see that the transaction is received, not produced.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Cross-references
- Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
- Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
- 1 John 5:11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
- 1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
- Luke 12:8 I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.
- Luke 18:13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
- Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
- Psalms 106:4 Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor to Your people; visit me with Your salvation,
- Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.