People & groups
Centurion
An officer commanding a unit in the Roman army.
Also called Β· Roman centurion
What it means
A centurion commands a Roman unit called a century. Its strength is not always exactly one hundred soldiers.
The centurion in Matthew 8 explains that he takes orders from superiors and gives orders to soldiers. He trusts that Jesus can heal his sick servant with a word, and Jesus praises his faith.
How it appears in the Bible
Cornelius in Acts 10 is a God-fearing centurion. Peter speaks to the relatives and friends he gathers; the listeners receive the Holy Spirit and are baptized. Julius in Acts 27 is entrusted with Paul and other prisoners for the voyage. The centurion in Mark 15 sees Jesus die and calls him the Son of God.