Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” New Living Translation I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” English Standard Version For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Berean Standard Bible For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” Berean Literal Bible For I also am a man appointed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does.” King James Bible For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. New King James Version For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” New American Standard Bible For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under myself; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” NASB 1995 “For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” NASB 1977 “For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Legacy Standard Bible For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Amplified Bible For I also am a man subject to authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Berean Annotated Bible For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant {doulō} to do something, and he does it. Christian Standard Bible For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Holman Christian Standard Bible For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” American Standard Version For I also am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Contemporary English Version I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, 'Go!' and he goes. I can say to another, 'Come!' and he comes. I can say to my servant, 'Do this!' and he will do it." English Revised Version For I also am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. GOD'S WORD® Translation As you know, I'm in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, 'Go!' and he goes, and another, 'Come!' and he comes. I tell my servant, 'Do this!' and he does it." Good News Translation I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, 'Go!' and he goes; I order that one, 'Come!' and he comes; and I order my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." International Standard Version because I, too, am a man under authority and have soldiers under me. I say to one 'Go' and he goes, to another 'Come' and he comes, and to my servant 'Do this' and he does it." NET Bible For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." New Heart English Bible For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, 'Go.' and he goes; and to another, 'Come.' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." Webster's Bible Translation For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Weymouth New Testament For I too am a man obedient to authority, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this or that,' and he does it." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” World English Bible For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers, and I say to this [one], Go, and he goes; and to another, Be coming, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does [it].” Berean Literal Bible For I also am a man appointed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does.” Young's Literal Translation for I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers, and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Be coming, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doth it.' Smith's Literal Translation For I also am a man set under authority, having soldiers under myself, and I say to this, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes: and to my servant, Do this, and he does. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers: and I say to one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doth it. Catholic Public Domain Version For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” New American Bible For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” New Revised Standard Version For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor I am also a man in government service, and there are soldiers under my command; and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. Aramaic Bible in Plain English “For I am also a man who is put under authority, and I have soldiers under my hand and I say to this one, 'Go', and he goes, and to another, 'Come', and he comes, and unto my servant, 'Do this', and he does it.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentFor I am a man placed under authority, and have soldiers under me; and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. Godbey New Testament For I am also a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Haweis New Testament For I also am a man under authority, and have under my command soldiers; and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come hither, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. Mace New Testament for though I am subject to authority, I have soldiers under me: I bid one go, and he goes: I bid another come, and he comes: I bid my servant do this, and he does it." Weymouth New Testament For I too am a man obedient to authority, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this or that,' and he does it." Worrell New Testament for I also am a man set under authority, having soldiers under myself; and I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." Worsley New Testament For I also am a man placed under the authority of others, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doth it. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Faith of the Centurion…7That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” 9When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”… Cross References For I myself am a man under authority, Matthew 8:9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you. with soldiers under me. Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. Joshua 1:16-17 So they answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. / Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. And may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. 2 Timothy 2:4 A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. John 11:43-44 After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” / The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them. Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” Psalm 33:9 For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” Exodus 40:16 Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him. Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord. John 4:46-54 So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. / When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die. / Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” … Acts 10:1-2 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment. / He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Ephesians 6:5-9 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. / And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. / Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, … Treasury of Scripture For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. under. Acts 22:25,26 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? … Acts 23:17,23,26 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him… Acts 24:23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. one. Acts 10:7,8 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; … Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 1 Timothy 6:1,2 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed… Jump to Previous Authority Bondman Cured Deem Goes Placed Servant Soldiers WorthyJump to Next Authority Bondman Cured Deem Goes Placed Servant Soldiers WorthyLuke 7 1. Jesus finds a greater faith in the centurion;10. heals his servant, being absent; 11. raises from death the widow's son at Nain; 18. answers John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles; 24. testifies to the people what opinion he held of John; 31. compares this generation to the children in the marketplaces, 36. and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner, 44. he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them their sins, upon their repentance. For I myself am a man under authority This phrase reflects the centurion's understanding of hierarchical structures, both in the Roman military and in the spiritual realm. The centurion, a Roman officer, acknowledges his position within a chain of command, which is crucial in the Roman military system known for its discipline and order. This understanding of authority is significant in the context of the passage, as it parallels the authority of Jesus over sickness and spiritual forces. The centurion's recognition of authority also reflects a broader biblical theme where authority is established by God (Romans 13:1). with soldiers under me I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes I tell my servant to do something, and he does it. Persons / Places / Events 1. CenturionA Roman officer in charge of a hundred soldiers. He is a man of authority and demonstrates faith in Jesus' power to heal his servant. 2. Jesus The central figure of the New Testament, whose authority and power are recognized by the centurion. 3. Servant The centurion's servant who is ill and in need of healing, prompting the centurion to seek Jesus' help. 4. Capernaum The town where this event takes place, known for being a center of Jesus' ministry. 5. Jewish Elders They act as intermediaries between the centurion and Jesus, showing the centurion's respect and good relationship with the Jewish community. Teaching Points Understanding AuthorityThe centurion's recognition of Jesus' authority is a model for believers. Just as the centurion understands the chain of command, we must recognize Jesus' ultimate authority over all aspects of life. Faith in Action The centurion's faith is not passive; it prompts him to seek Jesus' intervention. Our faith should lead us to actively seek God's will and intervention in our lives. Intercession and Humility The centurion's approach to Jesus through the Jewish elders shows humility and respect. We should approach God with humility, recognizing our need for His grace. Cultural and Social Barriers The centurion, a Gentile, reaches out to Jesus, a Jewish teacher, breaking cultural barriers. This teaches us that faith transcends cultural and social divisions. The Power of Jesus' Word The centurion believes in the power of Jesus' word to heal. We should trust in the power of God's word to bring about change and healing in our lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Luke 7:8?2. How does Luke 7:8 illustrate the importance of authority in Christian leadership? 3. What can we learn about faith from the centurion's understanding of authority? 4. How does Luke 7:8 connect to Romans 13:1 on submitting to authority? 5. In what ways can we apply the centurion's faith to our daily lives? 6. How does recognizing Jesus' authority impact our obedience to His teachings? 7. How does Luke 7:8 illustrate the concept of authority in the Bible? 8. What does Luke 7:8 reveal about faith and obedience? 9. How does the centurion's understanding of authority relate to Jesus' divine authority? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 7? 11. How does Jesus' life and teachings fulfill God's promise? 12. Luke 7:1–10 – How could the centurion’s servant be healed instantly without Jesus ever seeing him, defying natural explanation? 13. In Matthew 8:5-13, why would a Roman centurion, an officer of an occupying force, seek help from a Jewish teacher, and is there any historical record supporting such an encounter? 14. Why does the Bible allow killing in war but forbid murder in the Ten Commandments? What Does Luke 7:8 Mean For I myself am a man under authorityThe centurion begins by acknowledging a chain of command greater than himself. He knows what it means to submit, mirroring the biblical principle that “there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1). By recognizing Jesus’ superior, unseen authority, the centurion demonstrates the same faith that Hebrews 11:1 describes—confidence in things not yet seen but absolutely real. His words echo the humility of John the Baptist: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). With soldiers under me While under authority, the centurion also wields real, delegated power. This parallels Jesus’ earthly ministry: though the Son submits to the Father (John 5:19), He commands demons, sickness, and nature (Luke 8:25). The centurion’s experience helps him grasp that delegated authority works effectively when backed by a higher throne—just as believers act in Christ’s name (Luke 10:17). I tell one to go, and he goes Immediate obedience marks military life, illustrating how creation itself responds to Christ’s commands: winds and waves obey (Mark 4:39–41), and fevers depart (Luke 4:39). The centurion’s insight points to an unspoken truth: if his orders produce instant action, how much more will Christ’s word carry absolute power over illness? And another to come, and he comes Orders also summon rather than dismiss. Jesus similarly calls disciples—“Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19)—and they leave nets behind at once. The centurion’s analogy teaches that Christ’s call, whether to life (John 11:43–44) or to service (Acts 9:6), evokes willing movement because His authority is complete. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it The servant belongs fully to his master’s will, just as believers are “bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). The centurion trusts Jesus to command sickness itself, treating disease like a subordinate that must obey. His confidence foreshadows the Great Commission where Jesus, possessing “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18), sends His followers to act in His stead. summary Luke 7:8 showcases a centurion who understands and trusts authority—both received and exercised. By paralleling his military life with Jesus’ spiritual sovereignty, he affirms that a single word from Christ carries irresistible power. His insight moves Jesus to marvel (Luke 7:9) and reveals that true faith rests on the certainty that Scripture’s Lord commands every realm, and all must obey. Verse 8. - For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. What the soldier really thought of Jesus is evident when we read between the lines of this saying of his: "If I, who am under many a superior - the chiliarch of my thousand, the tribunes of my legion, my emperor who commands at Rome - yet receive a ready and willing obedience from my soldiers, and have but to say to one, ' Go,' and he goeth, to another, 'Come,' and he cometh; how much more thou, who hast no one above thee, no superior, when thou commandest disease, one of thy ministers, will it not at once obey?" The same thought was in Archdeacon Farrar's mind when he wrote how the centurion inferred that Jesus, who had the power of healing at a distance, had at his command thousands of the "heavenly army" (ch. 2:13; Matthew 26:53), who would"At his bidding speed Greek Forγὰρ (gar) Conjunction Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. I ἐγὼ (egō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. [myself] καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. am εἰμι (eimi) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. a man ἄνθρωπός (anthrōpos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being. under ὑπὸ (hypo) Preposition Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when). authority, ἐξουσίαν (exousian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence. with ἔχων (echōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. soldiers στρατιώτας (stratiōtas) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 4757: A soldier. From a presumed derivative of the same as stratia; a camper-out, i.e. A warrior. under ὑπ’ (hyp’) Preposition Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when). me. ἐμαυτὸν (emauton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 1st Person Singular Strong's 1683: Genitive case compound of emou and autos; of myself so likewise the dative case emautoi em-ow-to', and accusative case emauton em-ow-ton'. I tell λέγω (legō) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. [one] τούτῳ (toutō) Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. to go, Πορεύθητι (Poreuthēti) Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. he goes; πορεύεται (poreuetai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. another ἄλλῳ (allō) Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 243: Other, another (of more than two), different. A primary word; 'else, ' i.e. Different. to come, Ἔρχου (Erchou) Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 2064: To come, go. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. he comes. ἔρχεται (erchetai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2064: To come, go. [I tell] καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. my μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. servant δούλῳ (doulō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave. to do Ποίησον (Poiēson) Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. [something], τοῦτο (touto) Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. he does [it].” ποιεῖ (poiei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. Links Luke 7:8 NIVLuke 7:8 NLT Luke 7:8 ESV Luke 7:8 NASB Luke 7:8 KJV Luke 7:8 BibleApps.com Luke 7:8 Biblia Paralela Luke 7:8 Chinese Bible Luke 7:8 French Bible Luke 7:8 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Luke 7:8 For I also am a man placed (Luke Lu Lk) |
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