to be able to maintain his troops’ morale in peace and inspire his men in battle. In the New Testament Matthew's Gospel and Luke's Gospel relate an incident in which a servant of a centurion based in Capernaum was ill. In the Gospel of Luke, the centurion concerned had a good relationship with the elders of the local Jewish population and had funded the development of the synagogue in Capernaum, and when he heard that Jesus was in the locality, he asked the Jewish elders to request healing for his servant. In the Gospel of Matthew, the centurion makes direct contact with Jesus. The stories report that Jesus marveled at his faith and restored his servant to health. In both the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, the centurion who is present at the Crucifixion, said that Jesus was "God's Son". Accordingly, this centurion is considered by many to be the first Christian. In Luke's Gospel the centurion at the cross said that Jesus was "innocent". The Book of Acts tells of a centurion named Cornelius whose righteous and generous acts find favor with God. The apostle Simon Peter is told in a vision to visit Cornelius, a Gentile, with whom association was not permitted under Jewish law. The encounter leads Simon Peter to understand that God accepts non-Jews who believe in God and repent. After this revelation, the message of Jesus was evangelized to the Gentiles. See also Historical centurions St Agathius St Alexander Aulus Pudens Cassius Chaerea St Cornelius Gaius Crastinus Gordius St Longinus Lucius Artorius Castus Lucius Vorenus St Marcellus Petronius Sempronius Densus Spurius Ligustinus Titus Pullo Verus Related Primus pilus Vine staff List of Roman army unit types Military establishment of the Roman Empire Evocatus, related Roman rank Praefectus Castrorum References External links Ross Cowan, 'Centurion', Military Illustrated 271 (2010) Ross Cowan, Called to the Eagle: Some Sullan Centurions Ancient Roman titles Military ranks of ancient Rome New Testament Latin words and phrases Combat occupations