What happened to the soldiers who killed Jesus?

The Roman centurion overseeing Jesus’ crucifixion was not encountering death for the first time. He was a professional soldier, accustomed to violence and responsible for seeing executions through. Yet what he witnessed at this particular cross led him to a remarkable conclusion: “Truly this was the Son of God.”

What Happened to the Soldiers Who Killed Jesus? examines the crucifixion through the experience of the soldiers who stood close enough to watch it unfold. It gives some context to the role of a Roman centurion before considering what he saw in Jesus: His response to humiliation and brutality, His prayer for the forgiveness of those killing Him, the darkness and earthquake surrounding His death, and the manner in which He finally gave up His life.

This booklet uses that eyewitness perspective to return to the central claim of the cross. The man being executed under Roman authority was the Son of God giving Himself for sinners, including the soldiers carrying out the sentence.

A shared invitation 

Our Daily Bread Ministries wants to help people look carefully at Scripture and meet Jesus within its details, not only in the passages they already know well. We make resources such as this freely available. Donations from readers help us continue doing that work and make Bible resources accessible to others.