Thematic Bible: Restores the centurion's servant


Thematic Bible



When Jesus had brought to a conclusion all that he had then had to say to the people, he entered Capernaum. A Captain in the Roman army had a slave whom he valued, and who was seriously ill--almost at the point of death. And, hearing about Jesus, he sent some Jewish Councillors to him, with the request that he would come and save his slave's life. read more.
When they found Jesus, they earnestly implored him to do so. "He is a man who deserves that you should show him this favor," they said, "For he is devoted to our nation, and himself built our Synagogue for us." So Jesus went with them. But, when he was no great distance from the house, the Captain sent some friends with the message-- "Do not trouble yourself, Sir; for I am unworthy to receive you under my roof. That was why I did not even venture to come to you myself; but speak, and let my manservant be cured. For I myself am a man under the orders of others, with soldiers under me; and if I say to one of them 'Go,' he goes, and to another 'Come,' he comes, and to my slave 'Do this,' he does it." Jesus was surprised to hear these words from him; and, turning to the crowd which was following him, he said: "I tell you, nowhere in Israel have I met with such faith as this!" And, when the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave recovered.

After Jesus had entered Capernaum, a Captain in the Roman army came up to him, entreating his help. "Sir," he said, "my manservant is lying ill at my house with a stroke of paralysis, and is suffering terribly." "I will come and cure him," answered Jesus. read more.
"Sir," the Captain went on, "I am unworthy to receive you under my roof; but only speak, and my manservant will be cured. For I myself am a man under the orders of others, with soldiers under me; and, if I say to one of them 'Go,' he goes, and to another 'Come,' he comes, and to my slave 'Do this,' he does it." Jesus was surprised to hear this, and said to those who were following him: "Never I tell you, in any Israelite have I met with such faith as this! Yes, and many will come in from East and West and take their places beside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven; While the heirs to the Kingdom will be 'banished into the darkness' outside; there, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth." Then Jesus said to the Captain: "Go now, and it shall be according to your faith." And the man was cured that very hour.