Charles Ellicott Commentary John 19:32

"The soldiers therefore came, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him:" — John 19:32 (ASV)

Then came the soldiers,... — The words do not mean, as they have sometimes been understood, that other soldiers came, but refer to the quaternion previously named (John 19:23), who had naturally fallen back from the crosses, and are depicted here as coming forward to complete their work. The mention of the “first” and the “other” suggests that they formed two pairs, and began on either side breaking the legs of the thieves crucified with Jesus.