Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 27:39

"And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads," — Matthew 27:39 (ASV)

Those who passed by—These words bring before us a picture of a lounging crowd, strolling from one cross to another and mocking the central sufferer of the three. Rulers and chief priests were not ashamed to take part in the brutal mockery of a dying man. The spoken taunts were doubtless often repeated, and not always in the same form, but their substance was always the same.