rwp - Luke:7:1-10

rwp@Luke:7:1 @{After} (\epeid, epei and d\). This conjunction was written \epei d\ in Homer and is simple \epei\ with the intensive \d\ added and even \epei d per\ once in N.T. (Luke:1:1|). This is the only instance of the temporal use of \epeid\ in the N.T. The causal sense occurs only in Luke and Paul, for \epei\ is the correct text in strkjv@Matthew:21:46|. {Had ended} (\eplrsen\). First aorist active indicative. There is here a reference to the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, but with nothing concerning the impression produced by the discourse such as is seen in strkjv@Matthew:7:28|. This verse really belongs as the conclusion of Chapter 6, not as the beginning of Chapter 7. {In the ears of the people} (\eis tas akoas tou laou\). \Ako\ from \akou\, to hear, is used of the sense of hearing (1Corinthians:12:17|), the ear with which one hears (Mark:7:35; strkjv@Hebrews:5:11|), the thing heard or the report (Rom strkjv@10:16|) or oral instruction (Galatians:3:2,5|). Both strkjv@Matthew:8:5-13; strkjv@Luke:7:1-10| locate the healing of the centurion's servant in Capernaum where Jesus was after the Sermon on the Mount.

rwp@Luke:7:2 @{Centurion's servant} (\Hekatontarchou tinos doulos\). Slave of a certain centurion (Latin word \centurio\, commander of a century or hundred). strkjv@Mark:15:39,44| has the Latin word in Greek letters, \kenturin\. The centurion commanded a company which varied from fifty to a hundred. Each cohort had six centuries. Each legion had ten cohorts or bands (Acts:10:1|). The centurions mentioned in the N.T. all seem to be fine men as Polybius states that the best men in the army had this position. See also strkjv@Luke:23:47|. The Greek has two forms of the word, both from \hekaton\, hundred, and \arch\, to rule, and they appear to be used interchangeably. Songs:we have \hekatontarchos\; here, the form is \-archos\, and \hekatontarchs\, the form is \-archs\ in verse 6|. The manuscripts differ about it in almost every instance. The \-archos\ form is accepted by Westcott and Hort only in the nominative save the genitive singular here in strkjv@Luke:7:2| and the accusative singular in strkjv@Acts:22:25|. See like variation between them in strkjv@Matthew:8:5,8| (\-archos\) and strkjv@Matthew:8:13| (\archi\). Songs:also \-archon\ (Acts:22:25|) and \-archs\ (Acts:22:26|). {Dear to him} (\auti entimos\). Held in honour, prized, precious, dear (Luke:14:8; strkjv@1Peter:2:4; strkjv@Phillipians:2:29|), common Greek word. Even though a slave he was dear to him. {Was sick} (\kaks echn\). Having it bad. Common idiom. See already strkjv@Matthew:4:24; strkjv@8:16; strkjv@Mark:2:17; strkjv@Luke:5:31|, etc. strkjv@Matthew:8:6| notes that the slave was a paralytic. {And at the point of death} (\mellen teleutin\). Imperfect active of \mell\ (note double augment \\) which is used either with the present infinitive as here, the aorist (Revelation:3:16|), or even the future because of the future idea in \mell\ (Acts:11:28; strkjv@24:15|). He was about to die.

rwp@Luke:7:3 @{Sent unto him elders of the Jews} (\apesteilen pros auton presbouterous tn Ioudain\). strkjv@Matthew:8:5| says "the centurion came unto him." For discussion of this famous case of apparent discrepancy see discussion on Matthew. One possible solution is that Luke tells the story as it happened with the details, whereas Matthew simply presents a summary statement without the details. What one does through another he does himself. {Asking him} (\ertn auton\). Present active participle, masculine singular nominative, of the verb \erta\ common for asking a question as in the old Greek (Luke:22:68|). But more frequently in the N.T. the verb has the idea of making a request as here. This is not a Hebraism or an Aramaism, but is a common meaning of the verb in the papyri (Deissmann, _Light from the Ancient East_, p. 168). It is to be noted here that Luke represents the centurion himself as "asking" through the elders of the Jews (leading citizens). In strkjv@Matthew:8:6| the verb is \parakaln\ (beseeching). {That he would come and save} (\hops elthn diassi\). \Hina\ is the more common final or sub-final (as here) conjunction, but \hops\ still occurs. \Diassi\ is effective aorist active subjunctive, to bring safe through as in a storm (Acts:28:1,4|). Common word.

rwp@Luke:7:4 @{Besought} (\parekaloun\). Imperfect active, began and kept on beseeching. This is the same verb used by Matthew in strkjv@Matthew:8:5| of the centurion himself. {Earnestly} (\spoudais\). From \spoud\ haste. Songs:eagerly, earnestly, zealously, for time was short. {That thou shouldst do this for him} (\hi parexi touto\). Second future middle singular of \parech\. Old and common verb, furnish on thy part. \Hi\ is relative in dative case almost with notion of contemplated result (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 961).

rwp@Luke:7:5 @{For} (\gar\). This clause gives the reason why the elders of the Jews consider him "worthy" (\axios\, drawing down the scale, \axis\, \ago\). He was hardly a proselyte, but was a Roman who had shown his love for the Jews. {Himself} (\autos\). All by himself and at his own expense. {Us} (\hmin\). Dative case, for us. It is held by some archaeologists that the black basalt ruins in Tell Hum are the remains of the very synagogue (\tn sunaggn\). Literally, {the synagogue}, the one which we have, the one for us.

rwp@Luke:7:6 @{Went with them} (\eporeueto sun autois\). Imperfect indicative middle. He started to go along with them. {Now} (\d\). Already like Latin _jam_. In strkjv@1Corinthians:4:8| \nun d\ like _jam nunc_. {Sent friends} (\epempsen philous\). This second embassy also, wanting in Matthew's narrative. He "puts the message of both into the mouth of the centurion himself" (Plummer). Note saying (\legn\), present active singular participle, followed by direct quotation from the centurion himself. {Trouble not thyself} (\M skullou\). Present middle (direct use) imperative of \skull\, old verb originally meaning to skin, to mangle, and then in later Greek to vex, trouble, annoy. Frequent in the papyri in this latter sense. {For I am not worthy that} (\ou gar hikanos eimi hina\). The same word \hikanos\, not \axios\, as in strkjv@Matthew:8:8|, which see for discussion, from \hik, hikan\, to fit, to reach, be adequate for. \Hina\ in both places as common in late Greek. See strkjv@Matthew:8:8| also for "roof" (\stegn\, covering).

rwp@Luke:7:7 @{Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee} (\dio oude emauton xisa pros se elthein\). Not in Matthew because he represents the centurion as coming to Jesus. {Speak the word} (\eipe logi\). As in strkjv@Matthew:8:8|. Second aorist active imperative with instrumental case, speak with a word. {My servant shall be healed} (\iatht ho pais mou\). Imperative first aorist passive, let be healed. \Pais\ literally means "boy," an affectionate term for the "slave," \doulos\ (verse 2|), who was "dear" to him.

rwp@Luke:7:8 @{"Set"} (\tassomenos\). Genuine here, though doubtful in strkjv@Matthew:8:9| where see discussion of this vivid and characteristic speech of the centurion.

rwp@Luke:7:9 @{Turned} (\strapheis\). Second aorist passive participle of \streph\, to turn. Common verb. A vivid touch not in Matthew's account. In both Matthew and Luke Jesus marvels at the great faith of this Roman centurion beyond that among the Jews. As a military man he had learned how to receive orders and to execute them and hence to expect obedience to his commands, He recognized Jesus as Master over disease with power to compel obedience.

rwp@Luke:7:10 @{Whole} (\hugiainonta\). Sound, well. See strkjv@Luke:5:31|.