*This is the fifth post of twelve in my #12saints12days series. Support The ☧ost by becoming a subscriber today!
Longinus is a composite of a couple of soldiers assigned to crucifixion detail one fateful Friday that Christians call “good.” More than any other soldier saint, Longinus spans the narrative distance from hero to villain.
Synoptic centurion
Matthew 27, Mark 15, and Luke 23 all mention a centurion present for the Passion of Christ. What’s more is that it is “the centurion” (vv.54, 39, & 47, respectively), as in, the pilus prior in charge of all six auxilia centuries stationed at Fort Antonia, overlooking (Joshua’s) Temple. At any given time he would have been the highest-ranking Roman in all Jerusalem, but Pilate was visiting from Caesarea Maritima for Passover. Were it not for the Jews’ (well-earned) reputation for revolt, this centurion would have been the one to decide Jesus’ fate.
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