Matthew 27:54

γινόμενα, BD, some cursives and Origen; for γενόμενα אACL and many other uncials.

54. ἑκατόνταρχος. The centurion in command of the guard of four soldiers who watched the execution. It is interesting to think that this officer would in all probability generally be quartered in the garrison town of Cæsarea, where the centurion Cornelius (Acts 10:1) was also stationed.

As the Roman centurions were not chosen so much for impetuous courage as for judgment, firmness and presence of mind, there were doubtless many noble and thoughtful characters among them; cp. (especially the last phrase): βούλονται δὲ εἶναι τοὺς ταξιάρχους (centurions) οὐχ οὕτω θρασεῖς καὶ φιλοκινδύνους ὡς ἡγεμονικοὺς καὶ στασίμους καὶ βαθεῖς μᾶλλον ταῖς ψυχαῖς κ.τ.λ. Polyb. VI. 24. 9.

ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς ἦν οὗτος. In Luke 23:47, ὄντως ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος δίκαιος ἦν—a translation of St Matthew’s phrase for Gentile readers.

διακονοῦσαι. The beginning of the ministry of women—the female diaconate—in the Christian Church. The loving tendance of these women is a relief to the dark picture of the ‘afflictions of Christ,’ a relief recognised and feelingly expressed by all the great mediæval painters.