Centurion

Centu'rion (ἑκατοντάρχης and ἑκατόνταρχος, a translation of the Latin centurio, which also occurs in the Graecized form κεντυρίων, Mr 15:39,44-45), a Roman military officer in command of a hundred mnen, as the title implies. The number under him, however, was not always uniform, being enlarged or lessened according to circumstances (see Smith's Dict. of Class. Antiq. s.v.). Cornelius, the first Gentile convert to Christianity, held this rank (Ac 10:1,22). See CORNELIUS. Other centurions are mentioned in Mt 8:5,8,13; Lu 7:2,6; Ac 21:32; Ac 22:25-26; Ac 23:17,23; Ac 24:23; Ac 27:1,6,11,31,43; Ac 28:16. See ARMY. The centurion at our Savior's cross (Mt 27:54; Lu 23:47) is said to have been named Longinus (see the treatises on this point by Goetze and by Möller, Obss.philol. Rost. 1696, p.4 sq.). See CAPTAIN.