Lucas 7

The faith of a centurion

1 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 Well a certain centurion’s slave, who was valuable to him, was sick and about to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him to come and rescue his slave. 4 And when they came to Jesus they started pleading earnestly with Him, saying that the one for whom He would do this was worthy, 5 "Because he loves our nation, and he himself built our synagogue." 6 So Jesus went with them.

But when He was no longer far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him: "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. 7 In fact I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.*This event is not the same as that recorded in Matthew 8:5-13. For a discussion please see the Appendix: "Did the centurion leave his house?". Just say a word and my servant will be healed; 8 because I also am a man placed under authority,*He was part of a chain of command, with people both above and beneath him. Whereas he had military authority, he understood that Jesus had spiritual authority—all He had to do was speak. So how about us? having soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does."

9 Well upon hearing these things Jesus marveled at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!"*If Jesus were here today, He could say the same thing about almost all churches. 10 When those who were sent returned to the house they found that the slave who had been sick was well.