“39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, shalt thou be with me in paradise. 44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.” Luke 23:39-45. [I have corrected the punctuation to show the proper understanding of this text. See the Emphatic Diaglott next.
The Emphatic Diaglott translates this verse as follows: “And said to him the Jesus: Indeed, I say to thee to-day, with me thou shalt be in the Paradise.” The reason the Diaglott put the comma after today instead of before today is the following Scripture. “14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why do you weep? whom do you seek? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabbi; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I AM NOT YET ASCENDED TO MY FATHER: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” John 20:14-17.
Jesus was seen by many for forty days after his crucifixion. “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.” Acts 1:1-4.
Conclusion:
“14 For if we believe that Jesus died G599 and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14.
