Did Jesus & the Thief go from the Cross to Paradise?

In the immensity and complexity of the book we call the Bible, there are some verses that have become somewhat famous…like the Christmas text “Good tidings of great joy…”  The football stadium text “For God so loved the world…  the character of God text “God is love…”.  Another text that is well known and deeply meaningful is spoken by Jesus to one of the thieves dying on the cross next to him, Jesus said “today shalt thou be with me in Paradise…”  This text shows us the power of God’s love as expressed through the compassion of Jesus and his sacrifice and it is truly inspirational in the hope that it portrays.  Now, here is a simple and very legitimate question - what was Jesus saying to this thief?  What was he promising and why was he promising it?  As we find out by examining so many verses of Scripture, what seems to be said is not always what is really meant.  So, did Jesus really say what most think he said?