What about the other two who were crucified with Jesus? They spoke also.
I’ve seen some of these “higher criticism” types try to claim that there couldn’t have been any thieves crucified with Jesus, because of some interpretation they have of how the Romans did these things. So, I don’t think that argument would have any effect on them.
Once they’ve decided to judge the Bible by the wisdom of men, there is no end to how they can contort it in an attempt to make it say what they want it to say.
Presumably the same. The Bible doesn’t go into all the details, but I’ve read accounts of how crucifixions were usually done. Of course, they might not always be done exactly right.
Jesus died sooner than the others. Toward the end, the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves on each side of him, so they would be unable to stand and relieve their lungs and so would die more quickly, because of the need to get them down before the Sabbath eve, to avoid offending the Jews.
Since he died sooner, Jesus’ legs remained unbroken—in fulfillment of one of the Old Testament prophecies.