Expert: Dr Eddy Cheong - 2/7/2012

Question
1 of the 2 criminals crucified with Jesus  believed in God after being together being in the process leading  to crucifixion. Can I know the approximate time/hours they were with Jesus before accepting God?

Answer
The Bible says that Jesus (and the two thieves) were crucified at 9 am...
Mark 15:25-28

25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above:

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors."
NKJV

Our Lord Jesus died at the 9th hour which is 3 pm...

Mark 15:34-37

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
KJV

So Jesus and the two thieves were at the cross for approximately 6 hours...
John 19:32-34
32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
NIV Breaking their legs hasten death (bleeding)and it can be inferred that the two thieves died not long after that.

The time that one of the thief accepted the Lord was not mentioned in the Bible. However, the important point is that one was repentant whereas the other was downright disrespectful even mocking God at the time of death..

Luke 23:42-43

42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
NIV
Luke 23:39

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
NIV

All the unsaved world are like the two thieves, one group coming to Christ in Repentance and Faith and the other mockingly rejecting His Grace,one way or another.