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On the Theophania
Eusebius of Caesarea, tr. Lee, 1843
A certain man, illustrious from (his) service to the rule and power of the Romans, was in…
A certain man, illustrious from (his) service to the rule and power of the Romans, was in a state of suspense, because his favourite boy had become paralytic in his limbs, and was laid (up) in his house; who, when he saw that our Saviour shewed forth such powers upon others,—healing the sick, and curing every pain and infirmity,—he perceived in his own mind, that this miracle was not of man. He approached Him accordingly as God;—not looking to the vessel of the Body which was visible, and by means of which He carried on His discourses with men, but to that God who was unseen; to Him, who by means of a mortal being, made known these His excellent doings;—he fell down and worshipped Him, praying and striving (with Him), that He would afford to him for his boy the aid which is from God. And, when our Saviour said to him, “I will come and heal him,” the Chiliarch answered Him,—for he had been considered worthy of this rule among the Romans;—and said to him, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but, speak the word only, and the child shall be healed. For, I am a man in authority, and there are soldiers under my hands; and I say to this, Go; and he goeth: and, to another, Come; and he cometh: and, to my servant I say, Do such a thing: and he doeth it.” Hear therefore what our Saviour did upon this request, not from me, but from the Writer himself,—teaching (us) thus—in the very words: “But, when Jesus heard it, He wondered, and said to those who followed Him, Not even in Israel have I found such faith as this. And I say unto you, that many shall come from the East and from the West, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall go out into outer darkness.” And, after these words, He thus spoke to the Chiliarch: “Go: as thou hast believed, shall it be unto thee. And his boy was healed from that hour.” And, when the Chiliarch returned to his house, in that very hour he found his boy well.