John 19:31-37 Now it was the Day of Preparation Note: This was the day before the Passover Festival began, and fell on a Friday that year, and the Jews did not permit bodies to remain on a cross over the Sabbath day. (Besides, that Sabbath day was a special day i.e., since it was both the Passover and the regular weekly Sabbath, as well). So, they asked Pilate to have Jesus’ and the criminals’ legs broken i.e., to speed up their deaths and then have their bodies taken away.

AUV⁽ⁱ⁾ ³¹ Now it was the Day of Preparation [Note: This was the day before the Passover Festival began, and fell on a Friday that year], and the Jews did not permit bodies to remain on a cross over the Sabbath day. (Besides, that Sabbath day was a special day [i.e., since it was both the Passover and the regular weekly Sabbath, as well]). So, they asked Pilate to have Jesus’ and the criminals’ legs broken [i.e., to speed up their deaths] and then have their bodies taken away. ³² So, the soldiers went and broke the legs of the first [criminal] and then of the other man crucified with Jesus. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ However, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. ³⁵ And the person who saw this happen is giving a true testimony about it. He knows it is true [and is giving it] so that you will believe [it, also]. ³⁶ For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled [Ex. 12:46], “Not a [single] bone of his will be broken.” ³⁷ And another Scripture says [Zech. 12:10], “People will look at him whom they [had] pierced.”