:Greek Orthodox Bible Matthew 8:10 <br>"''' 10 ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς <big>ἐθαύμασε</big> καὶ εἶπε τοῖς ἀκολουθοῦσιν· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ τοσαύτην πίστιν εὗρον.'''" (''emphasis added'')
:In the ordinary realm of human experience, there are people of extraordinary abilities, whose careers span decades, who are ''not surprisingly'' a constant marvel and source of admiration. We are not surprised, knowing what we can probably expect of them, but we are still amazed and we sincerely do admire them, and we marvel. Jesus was not suddenly astonished by the centurion's faith, as if he did not know his heart and was unexpectedly surprised at something entirely new; he understandably appreciated, admired and marveled at this kind of confident faith. It was a faith freely expressed, an act of free will, the Roman centurion's own personal moral responsibility for freely choosing, without any irresistible spiritual compulsion of external influence having been sovereignly imposed on him from above without his consent, freely choosing to have complete faith in Jesus and the power of his word. Marvelous! Wonderful! In the face of Jewish resistance, ''Refreshing!''
:Not one of the whole nation of Israel had manifested such ready acceptance of the obvious evidence of Jesus' authority being from God as did the Roman centurion. This included even Jesus' own disciples and apostles personally drawn by Him from among the Jews. Even Nathanael was hesitant when first told about Jesus. And Thomas refused to believe what he was told without evidence he could see and touch. Compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A1-11%3A18&version=RSVCE Acts 10:1–11:18] where even Peter and the other apostles and the brethren (believing Jews) had '''not believed''', but afterward did believe; while Cornelius and his friends and his whole household had immediately accepted Peter's words about Jesus as Lord and Savior—and the Holy Spirit fell on them as a sign to Peter and the brethren with him, who to that moment '''''had not believed''''' that God had also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life'''!''' "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not" 1 Corinthians 14:22 (KJV).