ὁ ἑκατοντάρχης. Who commanded the quaternion of soldiers. It is remarkable that St Luke gives us several instances of ‘good centurions,’ Luke 7:2; Luke 23:47; Acts 10:1; Acts 22:26; Acts 27:43.

τὸ γενόμενον. See Mark 15:39; Matthew 27:54.

ἐδόξαζεν τὸν θεόν. A notice characteristic of St Luke (Luke 2:20; Luke 5:25; Luke 7:16; Luke 13:13; Luke 17:15; Luke 18:43).

δίκαιος ἧν. Truly this man was righteous. This remark might have been drawn forth by the silent majesty and holiness of the Sufferer. After the earthquake he may have added, “Truly this man was a Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). The latter phrase sounds at first incongruous on the lips of a heathen, though ‘Son of God’ is found as a title of Augustus in some inscriptions. But the centurion had twice heard our Lord pray to ‘His FATHER’ (Luke 23:34; Luke 23:46), and even Pilate had been overpowered by the awful dread lest He should be something more than man (John 19:7-9).

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Old Testament