Matthew 27:54

⁵² And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

⁵³ And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

⁵⁵ And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

⁵⁶ Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
KJV: Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
WEB: Now the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done, were terrified, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
ASV: Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
DARBY: But the centurion, and they who were with him on guard over Jesus, seeing the earthquake and the things that took place, feared greatly, saying, Truly this [man] was Son of God.
BLB: And the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus, having seen the earthquake and the things taking place, feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was God’s Son.”

ÅB: Men da høvedsmannen og de som holdt vakt med ham over Jesus, så jordskjelvet og det som skjedde, ble de såre forferdet og sa: «Sannelig, denne var Guds Sønn!»
OTB: Da høvedsmannen og de som var med ham og voktet Jesus så jordskjelvet og alt som hadde skjedd, ble de svært redde og sa: "Sannelig, Han var Guds Sønn!"
B1930: Men da høvedsmannen og de som holdt vakt med ham over Jesus, så jordskjelvet og det som skjedde, blev de såre forferdet og sa: Sannelig, denne var Guds Sønn!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Matthew 27:36
And sitting down they watched him there;
Read in context
Mark 15:39
And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
Read in context
Matthew 27:43
He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Read in context
Romans 1:4
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Read in context
Luke 23:47–49
Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
Read in context
Matthew 8:5
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
Read in context
Acts 23:23
And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
Read in context
Revelation 11:13
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Read in context