_Gesmas and Desmas_ (Vol. vii., p. 238.).--For the information of your
correspondent A. B. R., I copy the passage referred to by you in the
disputed Gospel of Nicodemus, formerly called the Acts of Pontius
Pilate. The extract is from an English version, printed for William
Hone, Ludgate Hill, 1820:
"But one of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus,
whose name was _Gestas_, said to Jesus, If thou art the
Christ, deliver thyself and us."--vii. 10.
"But the thief who was crucified on his right hand, whose name
was _Dimas_, answering, rebuked him, and said, Dost not thou
fear God, who art condemned to this punishment? We indeed
receive rightly and justly the demerit of our actions; but
this Jesus, what evil hath he done?"--vi. 11.
"After this, groaning, he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me
when Thou comest into Thy kingdom."--vi. 12.
It thus appears the names have been differently received: here they
appear GESTAS the _im_penitent, and DIMAS the penitent.
I have a fine old engraving, nineteen inches by fourteen, bearing date
"Greg. Huret, Lugd. inv. et sculp. 1664;" published in Paris, _cum priv.
Regis_.
The three crosses, with their inscriptions (each in Hebrew, Greek, and
Latin), appear.
The Latin on the cross of the thief on the right hand of our Lord (and,
from the expression of countenance, confessed the penitent) is
_DISMAS_ LATRO: the other is _GESTAS_ LATRO.