John 19:31-38 ▼

31 Since it was the Preparation Day, the Jewish leaders did not want to leave the bodies on the crosses during the Sabbath, because that was a particularly important Sabbath. So they asked Pilate to have the men's legs broken and the bodies removed.

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

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

34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water immediately came out.

35 The one who saw this has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows he is telling the truth so that you, too, may believe,

36 because these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: |None of his bones will be broken.|

37 In addition, another passage of Scripture says, |They will look on the one whom they pierced.|

38 Later on, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, and he came and removed his body.