Church Fathers Commentary Luke 23:47-49

"And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things." — Luke 23:47-49 (ASV)

St. Augustine of Hippo: When He immediately gave up the ghost after uttering that cry, those who were present greatly marveled. For those who hung on the cross were usually tortured by a prolonged death. This is why it is said, Now when the centurion saw...

There is no contradiction in the fact that the centurion marveled at seeing the earthquake, while Luke says that he marveled because Jesus expired while uttering a loud cry, which showed what power He possessed even in death. Because Matthew says not only that he marveled at the sight of the earthquake, but adds, and at the things that were done, he makes it clear that there was ample room for Luke to say that the centurion marveled at the Lord's death. Furthermore, because Luke himself also said, Now when the centurion saw what was done, he has included in that general expression all the marvelous things that took place at that hour, as if relating one great event of which all those miracles were parts.

Likewise, there is no contradiction where one Evangelist states that the centurion said, Truly this man was the Son of God, while Luke records the words, was a just man. We should understand either that the centurion said both things, with each Evangelist recording one of them, or perhaps that Luke is expressing the centurion's reasoning for calling 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 a just man, in the same way that many righteous people are called sons of God.

Finally, there is no contradiction in the fact that Matthew added, those who were with the centurion, while Luke omits this, since one evangelist simply records what another is silent about. And while Matthew said, They were greatly afraid, Luke does not say that the centurion feared, but that he glorified God. Yet who does not see that by fearing, he glorified God?

Theophylact of Ohrid: The words of our Lord seem now to be fulfilled, in which He said, When I shall be lifted up I will draw all men to me. For when lifted up on the cross, He drew to Himself the thief and the centurion, as well as some of the Jews, of whom it is written next: And all the people that came together smote their breasts.

The Venerable Bede: By their striking their breasts, as if signifying a penitential sorrow, two things may be understood: either that they mourned for Him who was unjustly slain, whose life they loved; or that, remembering they had demanded His death, they trembled to see Him glorified even further in death. But we may observe that the Gentiles, fearing God, glorify Him with acts of public confession, while the Jews, only striking their breasts, returned home in silence.

St. Ambrose of Milan: Oh, the hearts of the Jews, harder than rocks! The Judge acquits, the officer believes, the traitor by his own death condemns his crime, the elements flee, the earth quakes, the graves are opened; yet the hardness of the Jews remains immovable, though the whole world is shaken.

The Venerable Bede: Rightly, then, the centurion signifies the faith of the Church, which, in the silence of the synagogue, bears witness to the Son of God. And now that complaint which the Lord makes to His Father is fulfilled: neighbor and friend you have put far from me, and my acquaintance because of misery. This is why it follows, And all his acquaintance stood afar off.

Theophylact of Ohrid: But the female sex, formerly cursed, remains and sees all these things, for it follows: And the women which followed him from Galilee, seeing these things. And so they are the first to be renewed by justification, or by the blessing that flows from His passion, as well as from His resurrection.