praetorium Summary and Overview

The Greek word (praitorion) thus rendered in Mark 15:16 is rendered "common hall" (Matt. 27:27, marg., "governor's house"), "judgment hall," (John 18:28, 33, marg., "Pilate's house", 19:9; Acts 23:35), "palace" (Phil. 1:13). This is properly a military word. It denotes (1) the general's tent or headquarters; (2) the governor's residence, as in Acts 23:35 (R.V., "palace"); and (3) the praetorian guard (See PALACE T0002827), or the camp or quarters of the praetorian cohorts (Acts 28:16), the imperial guards in immediate attendance on the emperor, who was "praetor" or commander-in-chief.

(in the Revised Version translated palace,) #Mt 27:27; Joh 18:28,33; 19:3| the headquarters of the Roman military governor, wherever he happened to be. In time of peace some one of the best buildings of the city which, was the residence of the proconsul or praetor, was selected for this purpose. Thus at Caesarea that of Herod the Great was occupied by Felix, #Ac 23:35| and at Jerusalem the new palace erected by the same prince was the residence of Pilate. After the Roman power was established in Judea, a Roman guard was always maintained in the Antonia. The praetorian camp at Rome, to which St. Paul refers, #Phm 1:13| was erected by the emperor Tiberius, acting under the advice of Sejanus. It stood outside the walls, at some distance short of the fourth milestone. St. Paul appears to have been permitted, for the space of two years, to lodge, so to speak, "within the rules" of the praetorium, #Ac 28:30| Although still under the custody of a soldier.

PRAETO'RIUM . The headquarters of the Roman governors; in Scripture three such places are mentioned. 1. At Jerusalem. Mark 15:16. The same Greek word is rendered "common hall" and, margin, "governor's house," Matt 27:27; "hall of judgment" and "judgment-hall." John 18:28, 1 Sam 15:33; 1 Kgs 19:9. It occupied a vast rectangular space and contained barracks for the soldiers by whom Jerusalem was kept in subjection. This praetorium communicated with the temple, which was situated on the eastern hill, by a causeway crossing the Tyropoeon valley. It was in this praetorium that Jesus was tried before Pilate. Some, however, would identify the praetorium with the fortress Antonia, at the northwest corner of the temple-area. See Lange on Matt 27:27. 2. At Caesarea, Acts 23:35; translated "Herod's judgment-hall." This was the gorgeous palace in which Herod the Great resided during his latter days. It probably stood on the commanding eminence near the middle of the city. There Paul was kept a prisoner for two years. 3. At Rome, Phil 1:13; translated "palace," and in the margin "Caesar's court." This has been interpreted - (1) As in the A.V., "the palace" - i.e. the palace of the Caesars, on the Mount Palatine, which was garrisoned by a body-guard of soldiers called Praetorians. (2) As the general camp of the Praetorian guard, situated just without the city walls, before reaching the fourth milestone. It was established by the emperor Tiberius.

(See PALACE; JUDGMENT HALL.)