Census (Hastings' Dictionary)

See David, Quieinius. CENTURION (Latin, centurio ; Gr. Ktrrvplwv in Mk ; ikarovipxT)^^ iKarifapxos in Mt, Lk, and Ac, — see critical authorities in Grimm-Thayer for the two forms of this word). — An officer in the Roman army in command of a century {centuria), nhich corresponded to the civil curia, and consisted of a body of men numbering from 50 to 100, according to the size of llie legion of which it was a subdiWsion. Though resembling a British tap- tain in the size of tlie unit under his command, the centurion in social position was equal only to a British non-commissioned officer. He could not become more than a centurion, except through exceptional circumstances, but left the service when his time was up and settled in some small town, to live on the smaller or larger fortune he had acquired in the wars. We meet with centurions in the NT on five occasions — two of these being connected with incidents in the life of our Lord, one with St. Peter, and two with St. Paul. 1. At Capernaum a centurion came to Jesus to seek healing for his servant (Mt 8'", Lk T^'"). This man was a Gentile, but probably not a Roman, because the occurrence took place in the dominions of Herod Antipas (see Holtzmann, Handlmm. inloc). The Herods would be inclined to imitate their Roman patrons in the organisation of their armies. The centurion shows a warm symjiathy for his slave, such as was rare among Romans. His reference to his bein^ a man under authority, having soldiers under him, would be esp. ajipropri- ate on the lips of a subordinate officer to whom the duty of obeying his superiors was as familiar as that of commanding his men. The Capernaum centurion had probably resided for some time in the city, which would thus appear to have been guarded by a garrison. There he had been so attracted by the good qualities of Judaism as to have built a synagogue, from which it may be inferred that he was a believer in the God of Israel, though evidently he was not a proselyte. He evinced great kindness of heart, humility, and faith — the exceptional strength of his faith sur- prising and delighting our Lord. 2. A centurion was in charge of the execution of Jesus. This man must have been in the Roman army, as the cruci- fixion was carried out under the orders of Pontius Pilate, the Roman Procurator. The Synoptists note the impression produced on him by the spectacle of the last scene in the life of our Lord. According to St. Matthew and St. Mark, he exclaimed, • Truly this ' (Mk ' this man ') ' was the son (or a son) of God'(Mt 27", Mk l.')"); and according to St. Luke 'he glorified God, saying. Certainly this was a righteous man' (Lk 23"). AVhichever phrase he used, it cannot be supposed that as a heathen he fully appreciated the divinity of Christ, but it is clear that he was impressed M-itli our Lord's goodness and greatness. This centurion appears again a little later when Pilate inquires of him as to the fact and time of the death of Jesus (Mk 15"). 3. Cornelius, the first Gentile baptized and received into the Church (Ac 10), was a centurion of the Roman garrison at Csesarea, the headquarters of the Procurator, and belonged to the ' Italian band ' — (which see). It is evident from the narrative, that Cornelius, like the Capernaum centurion, had been deeply impressed with the religious ideas of the peoiile among whom he was serving ; but it is also evident that he had not become a proselyte — or St. Peter's scruples would not have needed to be removed by the vision on the hou.se-top, and it seems clear that he was not satisfied witii the measure of light he perceived in Judaism. 4. Several centurions of the cohort at Jerusalem under the command of a chiliarch (called ' the chief captain ' in Ac 2F' AV and R\') appear during the riot at Jerusalem, and tlie subsequent rescue of St. Paul and his arrest (Ac 2H- -l-i^- ■■« 2.S"- ■). There would be ten centurions to a cohort if the numbers were complete. 5. After his appeal to Cresar, St. Paul was conducted to Rome under the charge of a centurion named CEPHAS CHAIN 367 JulioB, with whom he came to be on very friendly terms (Ac "iT'- "• " 28"). This centurion was ' of Augustus' band ' (which see), Ac 27'. \V. F. AOENEY.