It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.
Commentaries
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The Preparation (παρασκευη). Friday. See verse 14.
Might not remain (μη μεινη). Negative final clause with…
Albert Barnes
AlbertBarnes
The preparation. See John 19:4. The law required that the bodies of those who were hanged should not remain suspended during the night. Se…
Charles Ellicott
CharlesEllicott
The account of the piercing of the side (John 19:31–37) is peculiar to St. John.
The preparation, ... an high day
Charles Spurgeon
CharlesSpurgeon
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath day (for that Sabbath day was…
Church Fathers
ChurchFathers
St. John Chrysostom: The Jews, who strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel, after their audacious wickedness, reasoned scrupu…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Expositor'sBible Commentary
Jesus died on the day preceding the Sabbath, hence, on Friday, “the day of Preparation” (cf. Mark 15:42). The day began at sunset on Thu…
John Calvin
JohnCalvin
For it was the preparation. This narrative also serves to build up our faith: first, because it shows that what had been foretold in the S…
John Gill
JohnGill
The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation
That is, either of the passover, as in (John 19:14) w…
Matthew Henry
MatthewHenry
A test was made to see if Jesus was dead. He died in less time than people crucified commonly did. This showed that He had laid down His life of Hi…
Thomas Aquinas
ThomasAquinas
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After dealing with the crucifixion and the events that accompanied it, the Evangelist now describes the venerable death of Christ.
A.T. Robertson
A.T.Robertson