that the military in pre-War Judaea was exclusively confined to its largest cities) prevent them from seriously weighing up the possibility that the role of the Romans in Jesus' fate was more decisive than usually recognized. In the wake of the Gospels' accounts, modern scholars do not pay much attention to the role Romans played in Jesus of Nazareth's arrest, and are prone to give credit to manifestly biased sources. Finally, the thesis concludes that by converting soldiers and officers in their networked locations around the United Kingdom, the ‘missing generation’ could return to the Church, meaning, once again, the military could be instrumental in the evangelisation of the nation. Thirdly, as the Early Church and Roman Empire expanded symbiotically, the RAChD should refine their cross-cultural evangelism to reach today’s mostly male, ‘millennial’ military and so ensure no man is left behind. The RAChD should be confident, therefore, to speak of Jesus and his exclusive salvation. Centurions in Luke’s Gospel both received clear teaching about Jesus and separately, proclaimed Christ boldly.

Consequently, the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department (RAChD) could be provoked to replicate Luke’s mission to those largely forgotten by the civilian church and recognise the privilege and peculiarities of serving the institution of the Army. In summary, the analysis reveals John the Baptist had an appreciation for the institution of the military and the courage to speak truth to power, while the centurion who had heard of Jesus had a faith that amazed the Son of God. Their example was, therefore, to be imitated by the early Christian community and, in fact, the Roman military were instrumental in the expansion of the church. The dissertation demonstrates that while Cornelius the centurion was the first Gentile to be baptised, men of the Roman military were already among those converted and their reaction to Jesus, was the correct response of a disciple. In contrast to Matthew, Mark and John, Luke’s soldiers and centurions are presented in a positive light, which subverted the ancient audience’s expectations and demonstrated Missio Dei for those regarded as the most marginal – the Roman military. This thesis argues that the presentation of the Roman military in Luke’s Gospel is highly surprising and hugely significant.

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