7:1-3
Luke wrote his gospel primarily with Gentiles in mind, so this incident is of particular significance. Matthew records the same incident in Matt 8:5-13. There are differences between the two, but these are not contradictions. Matthew says that the centurion went to Jesus, Luke tells us that he asked some Jewish elders to go to Jesus. The explanation is simply that the Jewish elders went on behalf of the centurion. A centurion was like a captain in the army, so was man of significant responsibility. The centurion had a servant who was sick, and the centurion valued him highly. Centurion’s are usually presented in a very favourable light in the gospels. News about Jesus had spread, and the centurion had heard about Him.
7:4,5
The Jewish elders had a high opinion of the centurion, for they spoke well of him to Jesus. The centurion had worked on behalf of the Jews, and had even helped to build a synagogue for them. It is possible that the centurion was a god-fearer, ie someone who respected God but had not become a full Jew. Note that while we in no way earn salvation, the Bible is not the least bit shy of saying that some people are more worthy than others. How we live matters.
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