The Centurion at the Cross
Gentile Roman army officer (Gentile) · Life of Christ · New Testament
- Also called
- centurion
- Role
- Roman centurion who confessed Jesus at his death
- When
- c. AD 30
What they did
He stood over against the cross and, seeing how Jesus died and the signs that followed, glorified God and said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
A Gentile soldier was among the first to confess Jesus as the Son of God at the cross, a sign that Christ's death was for all nations.
And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. Mark 15:39 (KJV)
Bible references
Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Matthew 27:54 (KJV)
And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. Mark 15:39 (KJV)
Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. Luke 23:47 (KJV)
Family
Scripture records little about this person's family.