The Faith of a Centurion

(A)When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but (B)only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,[a] ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, (C)he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with (D)no one in Israel[b] have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, (E)many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 (F)while the sons of the kingdom (G)will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place (H)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you (I)as you have believed.” (J)And the servant was healed at that very moment.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 8:9 Or bondservant
  2. Matthew 8:10 Some manuscripts not even in Israel

Healing of the centurion’s servant

When Jesus went to Capernaum, a centurion approached, pleading with him, “Lord, my servant is flat on his back at home, paralyzed, and his suffering is awful.”

Jesus responded, “I’ll come and heal him.”

But the centurion replied, “Lord, I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. I’m a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was impressed and said to the people following him, “I say to you with all seriousness that even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this. 11 I say to you that there are many who will come from east and west and sit down to eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.” 13 Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it will be done for you just as you have believed.” And his servant was healed that very moment.

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