According to Mark 15.44, Pilate was surprised that Jesus had died so quickly, because it was not unusual for a person who had been crucified to linger for two or three days. John is careful to make note of the fact that they did not break Jesus’ legs, seeing in their failure to do so the fulfillment of the scriptural passage cited.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .