What did Jesus say to the man on the cross to the left of him?

A:

Mark's Gospel, the first account to be written, simply says (Mark 15:27-28) that Jesus was crucified between two thieves, one on his left hand and one on his right hand, so that the scripture be fulfilled as Jesus was numbered among the transgressors.

Luke's Gospel says that one of the malefactors mocked Jesus, while the other repented, saying to Jesus, "Lord remember me in paradise," to which Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

Matthew's Gospel says both thieves mocked Jesus - (Matthew 27:44): "They cast the same in his teeth." There is no suggestion that Jesus spoke to either of them, and no likelihood that Jesus would have promised he would be in paradise. Luke's is the theologically most important account and thus the account most Christians prefer.