Jesus heals a centurion's paralyzed servant in Capernaum

5. When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6. "Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and racked with pain." 7. Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." 8. Then the officer said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed! 9. I know, 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 or that,' they do it." 10. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel! 11. And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12. But many Israelites--those for whom the Kingdom was prepared--will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13. Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go on home. What you have believed has happened." And the young servant was healed that same hour.

1. When Jesus had finished saying all this, he went back to Capernaum. 2. Now the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. 3. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish leaders to ask him to come and heal his slave. 4. So they earnestly begged Jesus to come with them and help the man. "If anyone deserves your help, it is he," they said, 5. "for he loves the Jews and even built a synagogue for us." 6. So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, "Lord, don't trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. 7. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 8. I know 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 or that,' they do it." 9. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, "I tell you, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel!" 10. And when the officer's friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed.