It was Preparation Day, so in order to prevent the bodies' hanging on the cross during the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a great day) the Jews begged Pilate to have the legs broken, and the bodies taken away.

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

But upon coming to Jesus they saw that he was already dead, and did not break his legs.