Bible Strands
Luke 7:9
When 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.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the crowd following Him immediately after hearing the Roman centurion’s declaration about military authority. This statement occurs between the centurion’s speech in Luke 7:8 and the messengers’ return to find the servant healed in Luke 7:10.
The words — ἐθαύμασεν (ethaumasen) denotes Jesus marveled or was amazed at the centurion. ἀκούσας (akousas) indicates Jesus reacted upon having heard the centurion’s preceding words.
The thread — Jesus makes this same declaration in Matthew 8:10, noting He has not found such faith in Israel. The text contrasts this Gentile belief with Jewish privilege in Romans 3:1, while Matthew 15:28 separately records Jesus praising the Syrophoenician woman’s faith.
Why it lands — The text states that exceptional faith can exist outside Israel and does not automatically follow ethnic or religious identity. It requires the reader to examine whether their own trust in Jesus’ authority matches the centurion’s concrete reliance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Cross-references
- Matthew 15:28 “O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
- Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
- Romans 3:1 What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
- Matthew 9:33 And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
- Romans 9:4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.
- Psalms 147:19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel.