Indeed this was a just man.

St Luke Chapter XXIII : Verses 47-49

Contents

• Luke xxiii. Verses 47-49.  Douay-Rheims (Challoner) text & Latin text (Vulgate)
• Douay-Rheims 1582 text
• Annotations based on the Catena Aurea of St Thomas

Luke xxiii. Verses 47-49.

The centurion glorified God.  J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

47 Now the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man.

Videns autem centurio quod factum fuerat, glorificavit Deum, dicens : Vere hic homo justus erat.

48 And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts.

Et omnis turba eorum, qui simul aderant ad spectaculum istud, et videbant quae fiebant, percutientes pectora sua revertebantur.

49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that had followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Stabant autem omnes noti ejus a longe, et mulieres, quae secutae eum erant a Galilæa, haec videntes.

Douay-Rheims : 1582 text

47. And the Centurion ſeeing that which was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this man was iuſt.

48. And al the multitude of them that were preſent together at the ſight, and ſaw the things that were done, returned knocking their breaſts.
49. And al his acquaintance ſtood a far off, and the women that had followed him from Galilee, ſeeing these things.

 

Annotations

    47. Now the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man. AUGUSTINE. (iv. de Trin. c. 13.) When after uttering that voice He immediately gave up the ghost, those who were present greatly marvelled. For those who hung upon the cross were generally tortured by a prolonged death.

    AUGUSTINE. (de Con. Ev. lib. iii. c. 20.) There is no contradiction in that Matthew says, that the centurion seeing the earthquake marvelled, whereas Luke says that he marvelled, that Jesus while uttering the loud voice expired, shewing what power He had when He was dying. But in that Matthew not only says, at the sight of the earthquake, but added, and at the things that were done, he has made it clear that there was ample room for Luke to say, that the centurion marvelled at the death of the Lord. But because Luke also himself said, Now the centurion, seeing what was done, he has included in that general expression all the marvellous things which took place at that hour, as if relating one marvellous event of which all those miracles were the parts and members. Again, because one Evangelist stated that the centurion said, Truly this man was the Son of God, but Luke gives the words, was a just man, they might be supposed to differ. But either we ought to understand that both these were said by the centurion, and that one Evangelist related one, another another. Or perhaps, that Luke expresses the opinion of the centurion, in what respect he called Him the Son of God. For perhaps the centurion did not know Him to be the Only-begotten, equal to the Father, but called Him the Son of God, because he believed Him to be just, as many just persons are called the sons of God. (Gen. vi. 2, 4.) But again, because Matthew added, those who were with the centurion, while Luke omits this, there is no contradiction, since one says what another is silent about. And Matthew said, They were greatly afraid; but Luke does not say that he feared, but that he glorified God. Who then does not see that by fearing he glorified God?

    48. And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts. THEOPHYLACT. The words of our Lord seem now to be fulfilled, wherein He said, When I shall be lifted up I will draw all men unto me. For when lifted upon the cross He drew to Him the thief and the centurion, besides some of the Jews also, of whom it follows, And all the people that came together smote their breasts.

    BEDE. By their striking their breasts as if betokening a penitential sorrow, two things may be understood; either that they bewailed Him unjustly slain whose life they loved, or that remembering that they had demanded His death, they trembled to see Him in death still farther glorified. But we may observe, that the Gentiles fearing God glorify Him with works of public confession; the Jews only striking their breasts returned silent home.

    AMBROSE. O the breasts of the Jews, harder than the rocks! The judge acquits, the officer believes, the traitor by his death condemns his own crime, the elements flee away, the earth quakes, the graves are opened; the hardness of the Jews still remains immoveable, though the whole world is shaken.

    49. And all his acquaintance, and the women that had followed him from Galilee, stood afar off. BEDE. Rightly then by the centurion is the faith of the Church signified, which in the silence of the synagogue bears witness to the Son of God. And now is fulfilled that complaint which the Lord makes to His Father, neighbour and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance because of misery. (Ps. 88:18.) Hence it follows, And all his acquaintance stood afar off.

    THEOPHYLACT. But the race of women formerly cursed remains and sees all these things; for it follows, and the women which followed him from Galilee, seeing these things. And thus they are the first to be renewed by justification, or by the blessing which flows from His passion, as also from His resurrection.

+       +        +

The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.

 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.