Verse 3 The peculiar point and interest of this story consist in the fact that the centurion was a foreigner, a Roman officer, under Herod Antipas, who, as such, occupied a peculiar position in regard to the Jews. These officers were often haughty and oppressive; but this centurion seems to have been a devout man, and just and beneficent towards the people whom he assisted to govern. Under these circumstances, it was natural for him not to apply directly to Christ himself but to ask the friendly mediation of other officers, of Christ's own nation, with whom he must have been, from the nature of the case, on friendly and familiar terms. How true to nature, and to the circumstances of the case, is the plea which they urged, in the Luke 7:4,5!