Luke 23:41 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And we indeed justly;— The faith of the penitent thief has something very remarkable in it; for he had conceived just sentiments both of his own conduct, and of Christ's character. It is a strong proof of a sincere repentance to acknowledge our crimes, and to resign ourselves to the punishment of them. But to this the penitent thief adds the virtues of reproving the other malefactor for his faults, and of defending the innocent. He shews his faith in God—in Christ; his fear of God, and his charity; 1 towards God, in restraining the blasphemies offered him and his Christ; and, 2 to his neighbour, whom he so charitably reprehends, so earnestly requests not to proceed in his reproaches, so lovinglyinvites to the fear of God, and so earnestly endeavours to amend and reclaim. It has generally been thought that the grace of repentance was begun in the thief, and raised to perfection all on a sudden, and on the present occasion too, when every circumstance concurred to hinder him from believing; yet it is far from being certain that either his repentance or faith was the fruit of this particular season: he was acquainted with our Lord's character before he came to punishment, as is plain from the testimony he bore of his innocence: this man hath done nothing amiss. He might therefore have often heard our Lord preach in the course of his ministry, and might have seen many of his miracles, and from the consideration of both joined together, have been solidly convinced that he was the Messiah. See the Inferences and Reflections.