Jesus makes a Roman officer's servant well
1 After Jesus had finished speaking to the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 A Roman army officer there had a servant that he liked very much. The servant was very ill and he was dying.
7:2The Roman army officer was a soldier who had authority over about 100 men. He was not a Jew.
3 The officer heard about Jesus, so he sent some important Jews to speak to him. He said to them, ‘Please go to see Jesus. I would like him to make my servant well. Ask him if he would come to do that.’
4 The Jewish leaders went to Jesus. They asked him, ‘Please would you do something to help this Roman officer. 5 He loves the Jewish people. He himself built a meeting place for us.’
6 So Jesus went with them. When he was not very far away from the house, the officer sent some friends to talk to him. He told them to say to Jesus, ‘Sir, I do not want to cause any trouble to you. I am not good enough for you to come into my house. 7 That is why I did not come to talk to you myself. Instead, speak your command. I know that my servant will then be well again. 8 In my work, someone has authority over me. I also have authority over other soldiers. I say to one soldier, “Go!” and he goes. I say to another one, “Come!” and he comes. I say to my servant, “Do this!” and he does it.’
9 Jesus was very surprised when he heard this message from the officer. He turned towards the crowd that was following him. He said to them, ‘I tell you, I have not found anyone like this man in all of Israel. Nobody else believes in me as much as he does.’
10 The friends of the officer then returned to his house. When they arrived there, they saw that the servant was well again.
