Jesus Heals a Soldier’s Servant^(A)

7 When Jesus finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum [4:23]. ² There was ·an army officer [^La centurion] who had a servant who was ·very important [of great value; precious] to him. The servant was so sick he was ·nearly dead [about to die]. ³ When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. ⁴ The men went to Jesus and ·begged [urged] him [^Learnestly; strongly], saying, “This officer ·is worthy of [deserves] your help. ⁵ [^L…for/because] He loves our ·people [nation], and he built us a synagogue.”

⁶ So Jesus went with the men. He was getting near the officer’s house when the ·officer [centurion] sent friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, because I ·am not worthy [do not deserve] to have you come into my house. ⁷ That is why I did not [^Lconsider myself worthy/deserving to] come to you myself. But you only need to ·command it [^Lsay a word], and my servant will be healed. ⁸ [^LFor; Because] I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my ·servant [slave], ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, ·this is the greatest faith I have found anywhere [^LI haven’t found such faith], ·even in Israel [or in all Israel].”

¹⁰ Those who had been sent to Jesus went back to the house where they found the servant in good health.

Jesus Heals a Soldier’s Servant^(A)

⁵ When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, an ·army officer [^Lcenturion] came to him, ·begging [pleading] for help. ⁶ The officer said, “Lord, my servant is at home in bed. He ·can’t move his body [is paralyzed] and ·is in much pain [suffering terribly].”

⁷ Jesus said to the officer, “·I will go and heal him. [or Shall I go and heal him?]”

⁸ The officer answered, “Lord [or Sir], I ·am not worthy [do not deserve] for you to come into my house. You only need to ·command it [^Lsay the word], and my servant will be healed. ⁹ [^LFor] I, too, am a man ·under the authority of others [^Lunder authority], and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my ·servant [slave], ‘Do this,’ and my ·servant [slave] does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to those who were following him, “I tell you the truth, ·this is the greatest faith I have found [^LI haven’t found such faith], ·even in Israel [or in all Israel]. ¹¹ Many people will come from the east and from the west and will ·sit and eat [^Lrecline; ^Cthe posture for a banquet or dinner party] with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven [^Cthe messianic banquet, a metaphor for God’s restoration of creation; Is. 25:6–8]. ¹² But ·those people who should be in [the heirs of; or the subjects of; ^Lthe sons of] the kingdom will be thrown ·outside into the darkness [into the outer darkness], where ·people will cry and grind their teeth with pain [^Lthere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; ^Cmetaphors for agony and torment].”

¹³ Then Jesus said to the ·officer [^Lcenturion], “Go home. ·Your servant will be healed just as you believed he would [^LLet it be done for you just as you have believed].” And his servant was healed that ·same hour [exact time].

⁴⁶ Jesus went again to visit Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine [2:1–11]. One of the king’s important officers lived in the city of Capernaum, and his son was sick. ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to Jesus and ·begged [urged; asked] him to come to Capernaum and heal his son, because his son was almost dead. ⁴⁸ Jesus said to him, “·You people must see signs and miracles before you will believe in me [^LUnless you see signs and wonders you will not believe; 2:23–25; 6:26].”

⁴⁹ The [royal] officer said, “Sir, ·come [^Lcome down] before my child dies.”

⁵⁰ Jesus ·answered [said to him], “Go. Your son will live.”

The man believed what Jesus told him [^Che did not need “signs” and miracles] and went home. ⁵¹ On the way the man’s ·servants [slaves; bond-servants] came and met him and told him, “Your son is alive.”

⁵² [^LSo/Then] The man asked, “What ·time [hour] did my son begin to get well?”

They answered, “Yesterday at ·one o’clock [^Lthe seventh hour; ^Chours were counted from dawn, about 6 AM] the fever left him.”

⁵³ [^LSo/Then] The father knew that ·one o’clock was the exact time that [^Lin that hour] Jesus had said, “Your son will live.” So the man and all ·the people who lived in his house [his household] believed in Jesus.

⁵⁴ That was the second ·miracle [^Lsign; ^Cthe first sign was turning water into wine; 2:1–11] Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.