When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.

• Matthew 8:5

As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”

• Acts 22:25

Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

• Acts 23:23

He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

• Acts 24:23

When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.

• Acts 27:1

The End Times Quiz series, at least the birth pains, is complete.  But I am continuing the people of war quizzes, every other week.  We have looked at Commander, Leader, Soldier, Warrior, and Officer.  There should be enough references to spy (spies) and maybe sailors to keep these quizzes going.

A Centurion could have been lumped with the Officer Quiz two weeks ago, but there are enough references for a quiz on centurions alone.  A centurion was an officer in the Roman Army that commanded 100 men.  A centurion has been likened to a company commander in the US Army, but a company commander usually has half again more men or more.

This quiz is made up of ten questions about verses mentioning a “centurion.”  The question may not all pertain to the centurion in question.

The verses are not in biblical order, but grouped based on story and the stories are in chronological order.  All questions are from the New Testament.

The Questions:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	In Capernaum, Jesus was asked by a centurion to heal his servant who suffered in what way?
2	What did the Centurion request Jesus to do when Jesus suggested that He would go to the centurion’s home?
3	Luke’s account points out something about this Centurion.  What did he do for the people in their town?
4	When the Centurion at the cross saw how Jesus died, what did he say? (the Mark 15 version)
5	I witness accounts can vary.  It is odd when they do not vary a little.  What does the Luke account record that the Centurion said?
6	After Pilate learned from the Centurion that Jesus was dead, what did Pilate do?
7	Who was the God-fearing righteous Centurion who saw an angel, and the angel told him to seek out Peter?
8	Who gave evidence to Paul and then Paul requested that he should retell his information to the Centurion?
9	When the Centurion acquired an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy, whose advice did he take when the weather was about to change for the worst?
10	Why did the centurion order everyone who could swim to go to shore as the boat was sinking, and everyone else would use a plank to float ashore?

There are two centurions that have names in the Bible.  The answer to question 7 and the centurion identified in the Scripture above who also is the centurion in questions 9 and 10.

The answer to question 7 accepted Jesus as his Savior.  Could Julius have become a Christian over the course of the voyage?  He saw Paul’s wisdom.  He saw the miracle of being bitten by a snake and having no ill effect.  He could have greatly respected Paul as a Roman citizen who had done nothing that warranted imprisonment, but having the name given for all eternity in Holy Scripture might mean something more than that.

And the Centurion of great faith in Matthew 8 and Luke 7 was a believer in the power of Jesus, but could that have been someone who is named later?  I doubt it in that Peter might have recognized him.

Bible References:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	In Capernaum, Jesus was asked by a centurion to heal his servant who suffered in what way?	Matthew 8:5-6
2	What did the Centurion request Jesus to do when Jesus suggested that He would go to the centurion’s home?	Matthew 8:8; Luke 7:7
3	Luke’s account points out something about this Centurion.  What did he do for the people in their town?	Luke 7:5
4	When the Centurion at the cross saw how Jesus died, what did he say? (the Mark 15 version)	Mark 15:39 and also Matthew 27:54
5	I witness accounts can vary.  It is odd when they do not vary a little.  What does the Luke account record that the Centurion said?	Luke 23:47
6	After Pilate learned from the Centurion that Jesus was dead, what did Pilate do?	Mark 15:45
7	Who was the God-fearing righteous Centurion who saw an angel, and the angel told him to seek out Peter?	Acts 10:22
8	Who gave evidence to Paul and then Paul requested that he should retell his information to the Centurion?	Acts 23:16-17
9	When the Centurion acquired an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy, whose advice did he take when the weather was about to change for the worst?	Acts 27:11
10	Why did the centurion order everyone who could swim to go to shore as the boat was sinking, and everyone else would use a plank to float ashore?	Acts 27:43

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

• William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2

Most people misquote the line as “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”

Maybe I should have put that last quote in bold italics since it is usually more often said than the real quote.

But, centurions were the soldier’s officer.  They had commanders giving them orders.  Felix told the centurion that the centurion had to keep Paul under house arrest until Lysias the commander arrived (Acts 24:23).

Yet, the smart ones, the ones who God used in biblical times, considered both their commander’s wishes and the need of the people they were ordered to subdue.

Subdue – that was what they were there for.  They did not go to Judea or Galilee to build structures or care for the people.  They were there to subdue them.  The cross was a killing device that was designed to terrorize the people into submission.

Yet, most of the centurions in the questions above were either God-fearing, Paul-respecting, or they cared for the Jews.

It is mentioned in the Bible that the soldier’s job is not to interfere with politics, but they realized that if they showed their human side, they might get more cooperation from the Jews than making the Jews carry your cloak for a mile when the Jew was not going that direction, possibly going in the opposite direction.  That thought brings entirely new thoughts to what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount.

And yet, decisions were made by these God-fearing, or something close, centurions that may not have pleased their commanders.  But God’s will was being done.

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The Answers:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	In Capernaum, Jesus was asked by a centurion to heal his servant who suffered in what way?	Matthew 8:5-6	Paralyzed. Luke 7 says very ill and about to die.
2	What did the Centurion request Jesus to do when Jesus suggested that He would go to the centurion’s home?	Matthew 8:8; Luke 7:7	Just say the word.
3	Luke’s account points out something about this Centurion.  What did he do for the people in their town?	Luke 7:5	He built their synagogue.
4	When the Centurion at the cross saw how Jesus died, what did he say? (the Mark 15 version)	Mark 15:39 and also Matthew 27:54	“Surely this man was the Son of God!”
5	I witness accounts can vary.  It is odd when they do not vary a little.  What does the Luke account record that the Centurion said?	Luke 23:47	“Surely this was a righteous man.”
6	After Pilate learned from the Centurion that Jesus was dead, what did Pilate do?	Mark 15:45	He turned over the body of Jesus to Joseph of Arimathea for burial.
7	Who was the God-fearing righteous Centurion who saw an angel, and the angel told him to seek out Peter?	Acts 10:22	Cornelius
8	Who gave evidence to Paul and then Paul requested that he should retell his information to the Centurion?	Acts 23:16-17	Paul’s sister’s son, or simply his nephew.
9	When the Centurion acquired an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy, whose advice did he take when the weather was about to change for the worst?	Acts 27:11	The pilot and the owner of the ship, not listening to Paul who said they should stay in the port until Spring.
10	Why did the centurion order everyone who could swim to go to shore as the boat was sinking, and everyone else would use a plank to float ashore?	Acts 27:43	The centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and the guards were planning to kill all the prisoners before going on shore.

Whether you did well on this quiz or, ummm, not so well, for the first video, here is Joe Bethancourt singing The Roman Centurion’s Song.  This is a poem by Rudyard Kipling.  Rome often encouraged their soldiers and centurions to retire to the far flung provinces.  Thus, this tired old veteran wanted to stay in Britain, rather than return to Rome, a city he admittedly did not know.

Here is Influence Music and Jonathan Traylor singing 10,000 Armies.

Here is TrueSong with Army of Love.

Here is Lauren Daigle singing Rescue.

Centurions led 100 men each.  But it takes the right heart to be a just leader of men.  And sometimes, upper levels of command are frightened by those that do it the way God would want us to.

But God is the supreme commander.  Each centurion had to choose.

If you like these Saturday morning Bible quizzes, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Saturday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.