Matthew 27:54

“Now, when the centurion, etc.] That was over the band of soldiers, that mocked Christ in Pilate’s hall, and who was particularly over the guard of soldiers, set about the cross of Christ: and they that were with him, watching Jesus: the soldiers that were with him, who were set to watch the cross of Christ, lest he should come down, or any should take him down from thence; (see Gill on “<402736>Matthew 27:36”). Saw the earthquake, and those things that were done; as besides that, the darkening of the sun, the rending of the rocks, and particularly heard with what a loud voice Christ spoke, and then at once expired: they feared greatly; not with a true godly fear, but with a fear of…”

“Now when the centurion--the military superintendent of the execution. and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake--or felt it and witnessed its effects. and those things that were done--reflecting upon the entire transaction. they feared greatly--convinced of the presence of a Divine Hand. saying, Truly this was the Son of God--There cannot be a reasonable doubt that this expression was used in the Jewish sense, and that it points to the claim which Jesus made to be the Son of God, and on which His condemnation expressly turned. The meaning, then, clearly is that He must have been what He professed to be; in other words, that He was no impostor. There was no medium between…”

“Now when the centurion ... - Centurion, a captain of a hundred soldiers. He was here placed over the band that attended the crucifixion. They feared greatly - They regarded these things as proof that God was angry, and they were terrified at the prospect that vengeance was coming on them. Truly this was the Son of God - They had heard, probably, that Jesus professed to be the Son of God. Seeing these wonders, they believed that God was now attesting the truth of his professions. The centurion was a pagan, and had probably no very distinct notions of the phrase “the Son of God” - perhaps understanding by it only that he was like the pagan heroes who had been deified; but he certainly regarded…”

“The centurion - The officer who commanded the guard; and they that were with him feared, saying, Truly this was the Son of God - Referring to the words of the chief priests and scribes, Mat 27:43 He said, I am the Son of God. Matthew 27:56”

“27:54 The Roman officer and the other soldiers were Gentiles. • the Son of God: This may be an unqualified affirmation that Jesus is the unique Son of God (see 14:33; 16:16) or possibly a more general affirmation of Jesus’ innocence (see Luke 23:47). They are responding to the earthquake and all that had happened as evidence of divine interest in this occasion.”

“the centurion: Mat 27:36, Mat 8:5; Act 10:1, Act 21:32, Act 23:17, Act 23:23, Act 27:1, Act 27:43 saw: Mar 15:39; Luk 23:47-49 feared: Kg2 1:13, Kg2 1:14; Act 2:37, Act 16:29, Act 16:30; Rev 11:13 Truly: Mat 27:40, Mat 27:43, Mat 26:63; Luk 22:70; Joh 19:7; Rom 1:4 Matthew 27:55”