In many modern languages, commas are used to convey or clarify the meaning of a sentence. But in the earliest available Greek manuscripts, punctuation was not consistently used.

Thus, the question arises: Was Jesus saying, “I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise”?

Or was he saying, “I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise”?

Translators may insert a comma according to what they think that Jesus meant, and you can find either rendering in common Bible versions.

How can we reason on what Jesus must have meant?

Recall that Jesus had earlier told his followers: “The Son of man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.”

He also said: “The Son of man is going to be betrayed into men’s hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.” (Matt. 12:40; 16:21; 17:22, 23; Mark 10:34)

The apostle Peter reports that this happened. (Acts 10:39, 40)

So Jesus did not go to any Paradise on the day he and that criminal died.
Jesus was “in the Grave [or “Hades”]” for days, until God resurrected him.—

Acts 2:31
he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in the Grave nor did his flesh see corruption.

32 God resurrected this Jesus, and of this we are all witnesses.

33 Therefore, because he was exalted to* the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father,
he has poured out what you see and hear.

34 For David did not ascend to the heavens, but he himself says, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
35 until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”’