Centurions in the NT

[tonychanyt]

Nine centurions are mentioned in the NT positively.

1, Matthew 8:

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

The centurion had faith in Jesus' mere word of command from a distance to heal his servant. Jesus was impressed:

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

2, Luke 23:

47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

3, Acts 10:

22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

4, Acts 22:

25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”
26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

5, Acts 23:

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
18 So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

6 & 7, Acts 23:

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen b to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

8, Act 24:

23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

9, Acts 27:

42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom. 43But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.

Why were centurions featured so frequently in the New Testament?

The following answer is from ChatGPT:

Centurions are featured prominently in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. There are several reasons why centurions are mentioned frequently in these biblical accounts:

1. Roman occupation: Palestine was under Roman rule during Jesus's time and the early Christian movement. Centurions were officers in the Roman army responsible for maintaining order and enforcing Roman law. They played a significant role in the governance and administration of the region.
2. Historical accuracy: The New Testament writers aimed to present an accurate account of the events surrounding Jesus' life and the early Christian community. Including centurions in the narrative was a way to reflect the reality of the Roman presence and influence in the region.
3. Neutral observers: Centurions were often portrayed as impartial figures who witnessed key events. They provided a perspective from the Roman authority that demonstrated the authenticity and impact of Jesus' ministry and the subsequent growth of the early Church.
4. Positive portrayals: While the Jewish population generally resented the Roman occupation, centurions were occasionally depicted positively. They were shown as individuals who demonstrated faith, compassion, and even respect for Jewish religious customs. These positive portrayals may have highlighted the inclusivity of the Christian message, appealing to both Jewish and Gentile audiences.
5. Symbolic significance: Centurions' appearances in the New Testament can also carry symbolic meaning. They often serve as examples of faith and humility, contrasting the religious leaders of the time who opposed Jesus. Centurions such as the one present at Jesus' crucifixion and the centurion who witnessed his death are depicted as recognizing Jesus' divine nature and proclaiming their faith in him.

Overall, including centurions in the New Testament serves various purposes, ranging from historical accuracy to illustrating key aspects of the message and themes found within the biblical accounts.

 

[AlexB23]

Nine centurions are mentioned in the NT positively.

1, Matthew 8:


The centurion had faith in Jesus' mere word of command from a distance to heal his servant. Jesus was impressed:


2, Luke 23:


3, Acts 10:


4, Acts 22:


5, Acts 23:


6 & 7, Acts 23:


8, Act 24:


9, Acts 27:


Why were centurions featured so frequently in the New Testament?

The following answer is from ChatGPT:

Centurions are featured prominently in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. There are several reasons why centurions are mentioned frequently in these biblical accounts:

1. Roman occupation: Palestine was under Roman rule during Jesus's time and the early Christian movement. Centurions were officers in the Roman army responsible for maintaining order and enforcing Roman law. They played a significant role in the governance and administration of the region.
2. Historical accuracy: The New Testament writers aimed to present an accurate account of the events surrounding Jesus' life and the early Christian community. Including centurions in the narrative was a way to reflect the reality of the Roman presence and influence in the region.
3. Neutral observers: Centurions were often portrayed as impartial figures who witnessed key events. They provided a perspective from the Roman authority that demonstrated the authenticity and impact of Jesus' ministry and the subsequent growth of the early Church.
4. Positive portrayals: While the Jewish population generally resented the Roman occupation, centurions were occasionally depicted positively. They were shown as individuals who demonstrated faith, compassion, and even respect for Jewish religious customs. These positive portrayals may have highlighted the inclusivity of the Christian message, appealing to both Jewish and Gentile audiences.
5. Symbolic significance: Centurions' appearances in the New Testament can also carry symbolic meaning. They often serve as examples of faith and humility, contrasting the religious leaders of the time who opposed Jesus. Centurions such as the one present at Jesus' crucifixion and the centurion who witnessed his death are depicted as recognizing Jesus' divine nature and proclaiming their faith in him.

Overall, including centurions in the New Testament serves various purposes, ranging from historical accuracy to illustrating key aspects of the message and themes found within the biblical accounts.

Ooh, an AI response. I use AI myself for some of my Bible analysis/studies here on the forum. Hey, at least we both do not use the Chinese AI (the Baidu Ernie AI), as we all know the government collects data, and the Chinese government is not nice to Christians.

Baidu launches Ernie chatbot after Chinese government approval

Baidu’s ChatGPT rival is live.

www.theverge.com

 

[awstar]

Nine centurions are mentioned in the NT positively.

8 of the 9 mentions were penned by Luke.

I would speculate that Luke used centurions as sources of information for both his gospel account and Acts. Given that some hold a theory that Luke wrote his accounts in Rome, after making the traumatic journey with Paul. That would give him opportunities to perhaps speak directly with some of those he wrote about — as they came to Rome from their assignments from other parts of the world. At least one, he would definitely know first hand (Acts 27:9) since Luke was in the same shipwreck as Paul. He probably talked with the ones in 22,23 and 24 as well, since Luke arrived in Jerusalem with Paul at the time of his arrest. The further theory that Luke wrote his accounts as supporting documentation for Paul’s trial would explain why they would all be mentioned positively.


Would AI come up with this kind of guess?

 

[tonychanyt]

Would AI come up with this kind of guess?

Not yet