ANSWER: The New Testament law under which we live today did not become effective until Pentecost day; fifty days after Jesus (and the thief) died on the cross (Acts 2; Hebrews 9:16-17). The thief neither lived nor died under the New Testament, as we today. The Great Commission of Christ in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16 was first proclaimed in Acts chapter two, after the thief died!

On this day Peter presented the terms of salvation to believing Jews in verse thirty-eight: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” These same terms of salvation are applicable to everyone from that day until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:39). The thief on the cross was not answerable to these terms of salvation, because he died before they were proclaimed! Examples then of how one is saved today should not be based on those (like the thief) who lived under a different Law and different circumstances, but rather they should be based on those in the book of Acts who also lived under the New Testament. All of the people in these examples, without fail, were saved when they believed, repented, confessed, and were baptized! We can do no less if salvation would be ours!