John 19:31

It was preparation day, and the Jewish leaders didn't want to leave the bodies on the crosses during the Sabbath day (in fact this was a special Sabbath), so they asked Pilate to break the legs, so that the bodies could be removed.

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

In Context

30After he'd had the vinegar, Jesus said, “It's finished!” Then he bowed his head and breathed his last.

32So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first one and then the other of those crucified with Jesus,

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Cross References

Exodus 12:16On both the first day and on the seventh day you are to have a holy meeting. You must not work on those days, except to prepare food. That is all you are allowed to do.

Deuteronomy 21:22If someone commits a crime punishable by death, and the person is executed by hanging on a tree,

Joshua 10:26Then Joshua killed the kings and hung their bodies on five trees and left them hanging there until the evening.

Micah 3:3You eat the flesh of my people, you strip off their skin, you break their bones. You chop them up like meat for the saucepan, like flesh for the cooking pot.”

Mark 15:42It was Friday, the day before the Sabbath. When evening came,

John 19:14It was around noon on the preparation day before the Passover. “Look, here is your king,” he said to the Jews.

Matthew Henry on John 19:20-31

The Inscription on the Cross; The Crucifixion. 19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. 21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. 23 Then the… Read the whole commentary →

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