Luke 7:2

Centurion’s. Gr. hekatontarchos, means “commander of a hundred [men]”; that is, a captain of a group in the Roman army called a century. The number of soldiers in a century varied from 50 to 100. This particular centurion was probably in charge of a company of Roman soldiers on police duty for Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee. As becomes evident during the course of the narrative (see on vs. 5, 6, 9), the centurion was not a Jewish proselyte. All the centurions mentioned in the NT seem to have been men of commendable character (Mark 15:39, 44, 45; Luke 23:47; Acts 10:22; 22:26; 23:17, 23, 24; 24:23; 27:43). The word “certain” refers to the centurion, not to the servant.

Servant. Gr. doulos, literally, “a slave,” or “a bond servant.”

Dear. Gr. entimos, “in honor,” “honored,” or “prized.” In ch. 14:8 entimos is translated “honourable,” in Phil. 2:29, “in reputation,” and in 1 Peter 2:4, 6, “precious.” Entimos appears in the papyri in reference to soldiers of long and distinguished service. This “servant” was held in high esteem by the centurion, doubtless for the valuable service he had rendered. The term itself may or may not imply personal affection, but in this particular case the centurion was “tenderly attached” to the slave (DA 315).

Was sick. See on Matt. 4:24. Ordinary paralysis is not usually so painful as the words “grievously tormented” (Matt. 8:6) imply, and it has therefore been suggested that the slave’s acute pain and paralysis accompanied some disease akin to rheumatic fever.

Ready to die. That is, “about to die.”