I know the Bible. It doesn't say people cannot be saved without a Bible in hand. The criminal on the cross had no Bible in hand. It say so is quite silly. God can speak to a heart,the Holy Spirit moves on a person and they are saved. Thousands upon thousands around the world have no access to a Bible and yet have become saved. Missionaries testify to this. There are people who have received salvation during the last moments of their life never having had a Bible and are in heaven today.
The one on the cross was witnessed to by Jesus. He looked at the fact that Jesus was innocent and chastised the other one. That implied a belief in Jesus and Jesus acknowledged that with his saying he would be with him.