Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 8:10

10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith no not in Israel.

Many think, that this story was in order before the other. It is related by Luk. 7.1. with some larger Circumstances, there is only [illegible: 2 letters]is Di[illegible: 2 letters]erence betwixt the two Evangelists, Matthew [illegible: 1 letter]ee[illegible: 1 letter]s to speak, as if the Centurion at first came in Person to him, Luke saith, that he first sent the Elders of the Iews to him, then some Friends. But we are accounted our selves to do that which we set others on work to do. There came unto him a Centurion, there came some Elders of the Iews first, then some particular Friends of one that was a Roman Captain, to him, to tell him that the C[illegible: 1 letter]ptain had a Servant at his house, that lay grievously sick of, and tormented with the Palsie. That which we usually call the dead Palsie, in which a fit of the Apoplexy usually issueth, when it doth not presently kill. Our Lord promiseth to come, and heal him, therein shewing both his kindness, and how acceptable to him, the Humanity of this Centurion to his Servant was▪ The Centurion by his Friends, as Luke tells us, sends to him, desiring him not to trouble himself to that degree, telling him▪ 1. That it was a favour of which he was not worthy. The best Men have always the meanest Thoughts of themselves. 2. That it was needless, for if he would only speak the word, commanding out the Distemper, that was enough to effect the Cure. For he tells him, that he believed Diseases were as much at Christ's Command, as his Servants were at his Command. That they came at Gods Command, wrought according to their Commission from God, and went off when God commanded them off; so that if he, tho at a distance, would Command off his Servants disease, it would be as effectual as his Presence; whether this Captain were actually Proselyted to the I[illegible: 1 letter]wish Religion, or no, is incertain: It should seem by our Saviour's next word, that he was not an Israelite; but it is most certain, that he had a right Notion of the Power of the true God, and it looks very probable, that he had a Revelation of Christ, as the true Messiah and Son of God. W[illegible: 1 letter]en Iesus heard this he marvelled. Admiration agreed not to Christ as God, but as man it did. And said to those that followed him, Verily I say unto you. I have not found so great Faith in Israel. That is, in the Generality of the Israelites, for if we speak of particular Persons, both Ioseph and Mary had shewed a greater Faith. This Expre[illegible: 1 letter]sion is enough to let us know, that the Centurion was no native Israelite, and make it probable he was not of the Iewish Church, which might be, tho he was so kind to the Iewish Nation as to build them a Synagogue, upon which Account, Luk. 7.3. &c. the Elders of the Iews pleaded with Christ for him. This made our Saviour go on, Prophecying of a further Conversion of the Gentiles.