[StormPrepper]

You're assuming the thief hadn't already been baptized.

That's right...

Luke 23
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

He called Jesus, "Lord". And at that time only the true believers were still with Jesus. The rest were mocking and calling for His crucifixion.

And all true believers would have been baptized as was Jesus' commandment.

Baptism is necessary for repentance. Which makes Jesus' actions make sense.

[Texicanus]

Thank you for enlightening me. I need to restudy the timing of all of this since the new covenant and the church was not established until after Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. At this time, the thief was most likely a Jew who had not been baptized. Was the act of baptism necessary of both Jew or Gentile in either the old or new covenants or both?

Thanks again, FYI, as a true believer I was baptized way back in my college days. Wouldn’t want to be caught on a misunderstanding or technicality. :)