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2. ἑκατοντάρχου δέ τινος δοῦλος. Literally ‘slave.’ The word used by St Matthew (παῖς) might mean son, but is clearly also used for servant (like the Latin puer). A centurion is a captain; under him is a sergeant (δεκάδαρχος), and above him a colonel (χιλίαρχος), and general (ἡγεμών). Jos. B. J. Luk 7:12, § 2. All the centurions in the N.T. are favourably mentioned (Luk 23:47; Act 27:43).
ἔντιμος. ‘Precious.’ 1Pe 2:4; 1Pe 2:6. The love of the captain for his servant was a good example for the Jews themselves, who in the Talmud forbade mourning for slaves.
κακῶς ἔχων. St Matthew says, ‘stricken with paralysis, and in terrible pain’ (Luk 8:6). St Luke, as a physician, may have omitted this specification because the description applies rather to tetanus than to “paralysis.”
ἤμελλεν τελευτᾶν. ‘Was on the point of death.’