At the Crucifixion

I was reading Padre Pio's reflections in the book The Agony of Jesus.  Pio writes, "He sees His throat and entrails on fire with a burning thirst, and to add to this agony, a drink of vinegar and gall."  to add to this agony... suddenly it all made a little bit more sense.  It was another way to torture Him. I'd always thought this part of the story a bit odd, but always just brushed over it.  Why would the men torturing Jesus, crucifying Him, offer Him something to drink when He was He is thirsty?  It doesn't seem to fit their characters.  Thankfully, Padre Pio cleared things up for me.