Centurions I. Introduction A. Let us turn and consider a set of characters in the New Testament B. The centurions! 1. Roman military officers in charge of a company of men 2. Two of them are named (Cornelius, Acts 10:1; Julius, Acts 27:1); the rest known only by position 3. They provide an interesting testimony to the faith C. What would we expect from Roman military officers? 1. Would they believe in the God of Israel? 2. What would be their attitude toward Jesus? D. Let us consider the examples of the centurions in Scripture! II. What is a Centurion? A. A centurion is a professional Roman military official B. We can understand something of them from Matthew 8:9 1. A man under authority, with soldiers under him 2. Centurion in charge of a "century" of soldiers 3. Historically as few as 83, up to 200 4. Different centurions have authority over centuries of different levels of prominence 5. Under the commander of the cohort and legion C. Characteristics of centurions in general 1. Known for discipline, both personal and toward underlings 2. Supposed to be literate, a soldier for a few years at least, over 30 3. Courage and leadership skills also quite important D. Part of the most disciplined army of its day 1. Rome won its wars on the basis of the discipline of its army 2. Harsh penalties for disobedience, desertion, dereliction of duty 3. The centurion had an integral role in this army, discipline E. Let us then consider the centurions of the New Testament III. Centurions in the New Testament A. Matthew 8:5-13 / Luke 7:2-10 1. When Jesus enters Capernaum, otherwise unnamed centurion sends elders of the Jews to Him to request healing for his very ill servant 2. Jesus agrees to come and heal the servant 3. Centurion declares himself unworthy to have Jesus enter his house; a man under authority, with men under him; what he says they do; he knows Jesus would just have to say the word and the servant would be healed 4. Jesus marvels at the faith of this centurion; declares how He has not found such faith in Israel, and how sons of the Kingdom (= Jews) will be cast into outer darkness, but many from east and west (= Gentiles) will recline at table with Patriarchs; says the word, the servant healed B. Matthew 27:54/Mark 15:39/Luke 23:47 1. Jesus' execution was supervised by a centurion 2. He did not seem to do much to restrain his soldiers as they abused Jesus 3. Nevertheless, upon seeing the darkness, the earthquake, and the way Jesus died, declared Jesus to be innocent, the Son of God C. Acts 10: Cornelius 1. Cornelius, centurion of the Italian cohort, in Caesarea; a God-fearer, gave alms, prayed (Acts 10:1-2) 2. Angel appeared to him, assured him that his prayers had been heard; told to send for Peter (Acts 10:3-6) 3. Men come from Cornelius to Peter; testimony that Cornelius is a righteous man, well-reported of by Jews (Acts 10:21-22) 4. Cornelius was present with close friends, relatives, eager to hear Peter's message; bows down at Peter's feet (Acts 10:24-26) 5. Peter preaches; Holy Spirit falls upon them during message; baptized; insist on Peter staying for a few days (Acts 10:44-48) D. Centurions at Paul's imprisonment 1. Acts 21:32: centurions summoned with soldiers to save Paul, establish what was happening 2. Acts 22:23-29: when Roman soldiers about to examine Paul by scourging, Paul speaks to the centurion present about his Roman citizenship; centurion halts scourging attempt, reports to his commander; Paul not scourged 3. Acts 23:17-18, 23: Paul summons centurion so that his nephew's message would be heeded; it was done; two centurions charged to escort Paul to Caesarea 4. Acts 24:23: in Caesarea, a centurion in charge of Paul in prison 5. Acts 27: Julius the centurion of the Augustan band in charge of prisoners heading to Rome (Acts 27:1, 6); does not heed Paul's first warning (Acts 27:11), but after the storm was more amenable to his advice (Acts 27:31); did not allow soldiers to kill prisoners, since he desired to save Paul (Acts 27:43) E. Thus we see the centurions of the New Testament III. The Examples of the Centurions A. There is much that we can gain from these centurions B. By definition, they are Roman or involved in the Roman military 1. To join the army, one had to swear by Mars, a pagan deity 2. Therefore, Jews did not join said army 3. Thus, all the centurions mentioned are definitely pagan and many are Roman 4. They would not be necessarily well predisposed to Jesus or the God of Israel C. Nevertheless, the examples of the centurions are consistent in their portrayal: dutiful, obedient, many coming to terms with faith! 1. Cornelius is known for his belief in God before hearing of Jesus 2. The first centurion in Matthew 8 also has commendation among Jews 3. Even the centurions who work with Paul handle their jobs well and end up being favorably disposed toward him D. What explains this openness of the centurions to faith? E. Answer likely in the understanding of the first centurion in Matthew 8 et al: an understanding of authority! 1. As he even says, he is a man under authority, with authority over others (Matthew 8:8-9) 2. He understand what power means: what is decreed by power is done 3. If he is commanded to do something and it is not done, he will likely be executed 4. If there is disobedience in his ranks, it will be similarly punished 5. He has learned about Jesus' power as the Son of God, able to heal, cast out demons 6. He makes the connection: if Jesus is the Incarnate Word of God, able to do by merely speaking it into existence 7. And so it is! F. By understanding authority, the path of belief for centurions is clear! 1. The first centurion is persuaded about the reports of Jesus, has faith that if Jesus says the word, it will be done 2. The centurion at the crucifixion sees the wonders in the natural world, understands that a Higher Power is at work, declares Jesus to be the Son of God 3. Cornelius already fears God, on basis of message of angel, believes sufficient authority vested in Peter so as to, as a Roman military official, bows down to a Galilean peasant! G. Thus we see why centurions believed: once persuaded that Jesus is Lord, God His Father, they serve Him as quickly as they would serve their military superiors, since they understood that you serve the one who has the authority! H. What of us? 1. The message has been declared to all: Jesus is the Crucified and Risen Lord (Acts 2:36, 4:33, 17:30-31) 2. If He is Lord, then He has all power in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18); this means that His will must be obeyed if the Lord will be pleased and punishment is to be averted (Romans 2:5-10, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)! 3. What hinders us from having the type of faith exemplified in the centurions but a less stable and profound understanding of the nature of authority? 4. American ideology and mythology has not done us many favors, positing that we really do not have anyone to whom we must give account, that we are in authority in this country 5. The centurions did not labor under such delusions: they understood what authority meant, they knew what happened when the authority was disobeyed, and they thus believed and obeyed! 6. We would do quite well to learn from their example and appreciate and respect the authority present with Jesus Christ our Risen Lord! IV. Conclusion A. Thus we have seen the centurions of Scripture B. Likely mostly Roman, all at least originally pagan C. Nevertheless, transformed by their interactions with Jews, Jesus, Apostles D. They obeyed Christ because they understood authority: once persuaded that Jesus is Lord, they obliged and served Him! E. Let us have that same faith and serve Jesus our Risen Lord! F. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: And 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" (Matthew 8:10). The presence of centurions in the New Testament is an interesting phenomenon. Centurions were "middle managers" in the Roman army: in charge of around 100 soldiers, with leaders above them. A particular centurion had faith that Jesus would just need to speak the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus marveled, for He did not find such great faith among the Israelites. How can we develop a great and deep faith in God in Christ? 2: Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:54). We should not find it surprising that a centurion was present at Jesus' crucifixion considering the deed was accomplished by the Roman military force. He did not restrain his soldiers from mocking and abusing Jesus, but he was able to interpret the signs which surrounded Jesus' death. He recognized that this was not some average insurrectionist who was killed; he confessed that indeed Jesus was the Son of God. Why would the centurion have been moved to thus confess Jesus as the Son of God? 3: Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always (Acts 10:1-2). Cornelius was truly an extraordinary character. He is not only a centurion but an Italian at that: he fully represents the oppressive power of Rome. And yet he is a God fearer and dedicated himself to the God of Israel. On account of his piety he was the first among the Gentiles granted to hear the Gospel of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit fell upon him as He had upon the Apostles on Pentecost. What encouragement can we gain from the example of Cornelius? 4: And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band (Acts 27:1). Paul was escorted to Rome by the Roman military and a centurion named Julius. The centurion was well disposed toward Paul and made sure he was not killed by the soldiers. Throughout the New Testament centurions are singled out for commendation in faith. They understood authority; they recognized the authority of God in Christ; they submitted to Him. We do well to heed their example. How can we learn to honor and respect the authority of God in Christ and serve Him fully?