John 19:32

32 So the soldiers went and broke the legs of the first man and then of the other man who had been crucified with Jesus.

John 19:32 Meaning and Commentary

John 19:32

Then came the soldiers
Pilate having granted the Jews what they desired; either the soldiers that crucified Christ, and the others with him, and watched their bodies, being ordered by Pilate, went from the place where they sat; or a fresh company, which were sent for this purpose, came from the city:

and brake the legs of the first;
they came unto, which whether it was he that was crucified on his right hand, and was the penitent believer in him, as some have thought, is not certain:

and of the other which was crucified with him;
who, if the former is true, must be he that reviled him; and was this their position, it was a lively emblem of the last day, when the sheep shall stand at the right, and the goats on the left hand of Christ.

John 19:32 In-Context

30 Jesus drank the wine and said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

31 Then the Jewish authorities asked Pilate to allow them to break the legs of the men who had been crucified, and to take the bodies down from the crosses. They requested this because it was Friday, and they did not want the bodies to stay on the crosses on the Sabbath, since the coming Sabbath was especially holy.

32 So the soldiers went and broke the legs of the first man and then of the other man who had been crucified with Jesus.

33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they did not break his legs.

34 One of the soldiers, however, plunged his spear into Jesus' side, and at once blood and water poured out