Centurians in the NT

A Centurion's Faith, Part 3:

The fact the noun “faith” is first used in the New Testament (NT) when Jesus described the faith of a Centurion in Matthew 8:5 - 135 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

is what brought us to that passage and was the subject of our last two studies. (We also examined Luke 7:1 - 101 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

, which describes the same incident from Luke's point of view.) It was noted that while commenting about the Centurion's faith Jesus also made the dismaying observation that none in Israel had as much faith as this Gentile Centurion. The record is silent as to his name or what subsequently happened to him.

There are five Centurions mentioned in the NT. Like the one in Matthew 8 and Luke 7, the next one mentioned is not indentified by name. It was he, along with his contingent that followed orders and crucified Jesus. There they witnessed 3 hours of darkness during daylight hours, an earthquake and other bizarre events, which prompted them to state that Jesus was truly the Son of God, Matthew 27:5454 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

; Mark 15:3939 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

, 44 & 45; Luke 23:4747 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

. This Centurion is apparently the same one Pilot subsequently asked to verify that Jesus was truly dead before releasing His body to be buried, Mark 15:44 & 4544 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

. Again, the Bible does not reveal whether this Centurion became a true believer or what happened to him. (It is one thing to make a statement that Jesus is the Son of God after witnessing miraculous phenomena and quite another to recognize one's own sinful condition and the need for Jesus Christ as Savior.)

The two Centurions described above are the only ones mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; there are none in John. Acts is the only other book in the Bible where Centurions are mentioned, two of which are named and one unnamed. It could have been anywhere between 5 and 10 years after the incident involving the Centurion with great faith described in Matthew 8 and Luke 7 that God saved a Centurion named Cornelius who lived in the town of Caesarea. It happened like this: a vision of an angel of God told Cornelius to send for the Apostle Peter who was in Joppa at the time and ask him to come visit. Cornelius sent two servants along with a “devout” soldier to summon Peter and just as the three arrived at where he was staying Peter himself was visited in a vision instructing him to go to Cornelius, Acts 10:1 - 481 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

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There were at least two reasons God sent visions to Cornelius and Peter. One of course was that God chose to save Cornelius unto eternal life and used Peter to bring His Word to him. The other reason may be less obvious to us during this day and age of Grace. At that time it was simply against the Jewish Law for a Jew to associate with Gentiles, Acts 10:22 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

828 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

, therefore Peter would not have gone unless told to do so by God.

Cornelius was apparently aware of this so he would not have sent for Peter unless prompted by God to do so. It should be noted that Paul had just been saved a short time before this incident occurred and although the mystery of the Body of Christ wherein both Jew and Gentile are joined as one in Christ was being revealed to him, Ephesians 2:11 - 3:9, Peter did not know about this as yet and was still following the Law of Moses, Galatians 2. Thus God had to show Peter he should no longer call any man common or unclean, Acts 10:28.

Before Peter contacted him Cornelius is described as having been “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” Acts 10:2.

However, despite his devoutness, alms and prayer Cornelius was not a proselyte to the Jewish religion and he had not received remission of sins so he did not have eternal life. We know this because it was in response to his prayers that he was instructed to send for Peter to show him the way of salvation, Acts 10:4 - 64 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

, and “He (Peter) shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved,” Acts 11:1414 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

. (See the late Pastor Cornelius Stam's book “Acts, Dispensationally Considered,” Volume II, pages 71 & 72 for a more thorough examination of the circumstances of this incident.)

The Bible is silent as to whether the Centurion mentioned in Matthew 8 & Luke 7 could have been one in the same as Cornelius in Acts 10 & 11. The one in Matthew and Luke may have been a different Centurion than Cornelius, but there is nothing to indicate they could not have been the same man. Regardless, it is important to note that a significant change had occurred in God's dealings with the Jews between the time the one is mentioned in Matthew 8 and the time when Cornelius was saved in Acts.

The time Jesus was on earth as recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John was a continuation of what God began when He called out Abraham (Genesis) and subsequently gave the Law of Moses to Israel (Exodus.) We have the heading “New Testament” in our Bibles when we come to the book of Matthew but God's dealing with the Jews did not actually change at that point from formerly, except that two significant Old Testament prophecies were being fulfilled: 1) God's Word given through Isaiah about the coming of John the Baptist, Isaiah 40:33 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

; Matthew 3:33 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

, etc. and; 2) the coming of Israel's Messiah, Isaiah 11:22 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

; 61:1 & 2; Luke 4:16 - 2116 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

. But, even though Israel's Messiah had come: “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (them,)” John 1:1414 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

, God's requirement for any man or woman to be in a right relationship with Him remained the same as before. From the time of Moses up through the first part of Acts a person had to be a Jew or a proselyte to the Jewish religion and follow the Law of Moses in order to be in a right relationship with God. As has already noted, Jesus Himself said he was not sent but unto the lost sheep of Israel, Matthew 15:2424 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

b and throughout His ministry He consistently adhered to the Law of Moses: Matthews 8:4; 23:15; Acts 2:1010 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

, 6:5 & 13:43.

The fact is that the law remained in effect until after Jesus ascended into heaven and reached down to save Saul who became the Apostle Paul, Acts 9. But something else of significance did happen in the way God dealt with the Jews between the Centurion in Matthew 8 and Cornelius in Acts 10. During the time covered by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all those in Israel who repented from their sins and believed Jesus was indeed the Christ of Israel did not receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself proclaimed: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 16:77 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

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Just before Jesus ascended into heaven He told His people: “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:55 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

. After Jesus ascended into heaven He did send the Holy Spirit to fill the believers at Jerusalem, Acts 2:1 - 51 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

. Therefore, in comparing the times of the Centurion in Matthew 8 and Luke 7 to those of Cornelius in Acts 10 we note: the Centurion in Matthew and Luke would have had to be baptized for the remission of sins and follow the law but would not have received the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, while Peter was telling Cornelius the Gospel the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and those with him who heard the Word, Acts 10:4444 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

. We read that the Jewish believers accompanying Peter were astonished that the Holy Spirit came upon these Gentiles, Acts 10:45 & 4645 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

, so this was indeed something new from God. We must keep these differences in mind as we study the Gospels and the book of Acts and what happens thereafter.

To be continued.