by Timothy W. Burnett
After facing a most painful scourging, Jesus was marched off to be crucified. According to Luke 23:32, "there were also two others, malefactors, lead with him to be put to death." The word "malefactors" was translated from the earlier known Greek word, "kakourgoi," which meant evildoers. All three men were accused by the Jewish leaders of committing evil acts. The malefactors were on each side of Jesus.
Later in the day two other people were lead out to be crucified at the same location as Jesus and the other malefactors. This event is found in Matthew 27:38 where it says, "Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left." This same information is revealed in Mark 15:27. According to both records the other two men arrived after the Roman soldiers put Jesus' accusation over his head which read, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews." The thieves were also on each side of Jesus.
The word "thieves" in both scripture comes from the earlier known Greek word "lestai," which meant robbers. The Greek word lestai is distinctly different from the word kakourgoi (referred to above). The thieves were basically brigands or highway bandits, while the malefactors were evildoers.
When the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are allowed to harmonize the story, we can see more clearly that Jesus was first lead out with two malefactors or evildoers. Then, after the accusation was put over Jesus' head, two thieves or robbers were brought in to be crucified.
Having seen how the above three Gospels harmonize to tell the whole story, it's time to tackle the account found in John 19:18-19 where it says, "Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the was, 'Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.'"
The account of John includes the words "on either side one." This phrase comes from the earlier known Greek phrase, "enteuthen kai enteuthen." The Greek phrase meant on this side and on that side. When we replace the verse with the more accurate translation it reads, "...and two other with him on this side and on that side, and Jesus in the midst." The word "midst" fits perfectly with the verse because it refers to being in the middle of three or more people. If he was crucified with only two others, it would have used the word "middle."
Having established that Jesus was crucified with four other men, let's look briefly at John 19:31-37. The Jews urged Pilate to make sure all the men were dead. Braking the legs would accelerate the process. According to verses 32-33 the soldier broke the first man's leg, then the other who was cricified with Jesus. Then he came to Jesus and found him dead.
By allowing God's word to interpret itself, we can see that the first man would have been a robber and the second a malefactor. Jesus would have been third in line. Jesus' death was so precise in timing that none of his bones were broken, which fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy, "A bone of him shall not be broken." This scripture is found in Psalm 34:20, "He keeps all of his bones. Not one of them is broken."
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