The centurion in Capernaum was a non-Israelite (Matthew 8:10) military commander in charge of one hundred soldiers, in the army of Herod Antipas (a friend to the Jews, having used his own funds to build a synagogue for them: Luke 7:5). Since before 44 AD, there was no Roman presence in Galilee, the centurion was probably not a Roman, but rather a Syrian, a Gaul, or a Teuton.
The centurion in Capernaum was a military commander in charge of one hundred troops. This centurion would have served in the army of Herod Antipas, for prior to 44 A.D. there was no Roman military presence in Galilee. Antipas was indeed a Gentile ruler Matthew 8:10), but he had great affection for the Jewish people, as is evident from the fact that he used his personal funds to erect a new synagogue in Capernaum (Luke 7:5).1 As a commander in the army of Herod Antipas he was probably not a Roman, but rather a Syrian, a Gaul, or a Teuton.2
5 Comme Jésus entrait dans Capernaüm, un centenier l'aborda,