Bro. Jerome,
I meekly and humbly disagree with your statement here. No where in the bible will this statement stand up. I mean that there is no way any of us can tell if these Roman soldiers believed in Him after His crucifixition. There was one who did state, "Surely this was the Son of God", so apparently he knew. But the scriptures are silent in regards to the others who mocked Him.
We all had part in Jesus' death in that He took our sins and nailed them with Him on the cross. Our sins helped nail Him to the cross.
So when Jesus prayed to the Father to "forgive them", He was talking about those who didn't believe in who He was at that time. Now when He was talking to the Pharisees and Saducees, He stated that "you are of your father, the devil", and I believe that included the Romans as well. Why do I believe that you may ask? Romans were/are gentiles, and until Jesus raised that third and appointed morning, they were excluded from the Old Testament laws, and after He arose, He made us all equal. Meaning that the gentiles have as much right to God, as the Jew had/has. He made it to where there was neither male nor female, jew nor greek(gentile), bond or free, but one Spirit. I hope I haven't muddied the waters. I will try to make it clearer, if you want me to. With love!!
i am I am's!!
Willis