Bible Strands
Matthew 27:38
Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrative places two condemned men on execution crosses alongside Jesus, one on each side. This occurs immediately after the trial inscription is posted and directly precedes the mockery from passersby.
The words — σταυροῦνται (staurountai) = are crucified; λῃσταὶ (lēstai) = robbers or armed insurgents. The passive verb emphasizes the execution's completion, while λῃσταὶ specifies politically charged bandits rather than ordinary thieves.
The thread — John 19:18 confirms the exact spatial arrangement of Jesus between the two crucified men. Luke 23:39 and John 19:31 continue the scene by recording the criminals' speech and the urgent preparation to remove the bodies before the Sabbath.
Why it lands — The text positions the declared king in the precise place of a condemned outlaw. It requires the reader to acknowledge that the executed ruler shares the exact legal and physical fate of the guilty.
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
Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Cross-references
- John 19:18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.
- Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”
- John 19:31 It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.
- Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
- Matthew 27:44 In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him.
- Mark 15:27 Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.
- Luke 22:37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”
- Luke 23:32 Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.