‘And when he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him that he would come and save his servant.'
He was also a humble man. He did not despatch his soldiers to bring Jesus in, as he might have done. Nor did he go himself in order to exercise his influence as a servant of Rome. He recognised that he was dealing here with something greater than Rome, and that, as he was a Gentile, a Jewish prophet may well not wish to enter his house (no Pharisee would so so). So he rather approached some of the elders of the synagogue which he had built for the Jews, and asked them to intercede with the Prophet on his behalf. They on their part were willing. This was an indication that general Jewish hatred of Gentiles could be overborne when Gentiles were willing to show favour to Judaism. But had he been a proselyte they would surely have said so.