Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (Jewish Law) says to bury the corpses of those crucified (before sunset).1 This is relevant because Jews considered the demands of Jewish Law to be morally obligatory.
So? Couldn’t it simply be that…
11Q Temple Scroll 64:7-13 (150-75 BC?) instructs Jews to bury corpses before sunset.1
Josephus’s Jewish Wars 3.377 says Jews ensured they were buried before sunset.1
Josephus’s Jewish Wars 4.317 says Jews ensured they were buried before sunset.1
So? Couldn’t it simply be that…
Josephus's, Antiquities of the Jews 4.202 & 4.265.1
Philo in De Specialibus Legibus III 151-152 records, “let not the sun set” on the crucified.1 (cf. Post C. 61; Somn. 2.213)
b. Sanhedrin 46b instructs Jews to bury corpses before sunset.1
m Sanh 6:5 (Mishnah) says “whoever keeps his dead unburied overnight transgresses…”.1 This applied in Jesus's time.2
4Q492, 4Q285, & 4Q251 indicate that Jews (historically) did bury corpses before sunset.1
Gospel of Peter 3-5, 15 indicates that Jews did bury corpses before sunset.1
In general, Jews felt obligated to ensure pre-sunset (A.S.A.P.) burial of any corpse (including those not crucified).
Old Testament examples exist which demonstrated burial before sunset.1 This is relevant because Jews would have attempted to pattern themselves after these examples.
Acts 5:6-10 demonstrates burial before sunset, even among Christians.1
• Acts 5:6-10 -- The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. 7Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8And Peter responded to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?" And she said, "Yes, that was the price." 9Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well." 10And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.