³¹ This day was Preparation Day [^Cfor the celebration of Passover; 12:12], and the next day was a ·special [high; ^Lgreat] Sabbath day [^Cspecial because it occurred during Passover]. Since the ·religious leaders [^LJews] did not want the bodies to stay on the cross on the Sabbath day, they asked Pilate to order that the legs of the men be broken [^Cso they would die quicker] and the bodies be taken away [Deut. 21:22–23]. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man on the cross beside Jesus. Then they broke the legs of the man on the other cross beside Jesus. ³³ But when the soldiers came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers ·stuck [pierced] his ·spear [lance; javelin] into Jesus’ side, and at once blood and water came out [^Cindicating his death as a human being]. ³⁵ (The one who saw this happen is the one who ·told us this [witnesses; testifies; ^Cagain probably an allusion to the disciple John], and ·whatever he says [his witness/testimony] is true. And he knows that he tells the truth, and he tells it so that you might believe [see 21:24].) ³⁶ [^LFor] These things happened to ·make the Scripture come true [fulfill the Scripture]: “Not one of his bones will be broken [Ps. 34:20; see Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12].” ³⁷ And [^Lagain] another Scripture says, “They will look at the one they ·stabbed [pierced; Zech. 12:10].”