The Greek word (praitorion) thus rendered in
Mark 15:16 is rendered "common hall" (
Matthew 27:27 , marg., "governor's house"), "judgment hall," (
John 18:28 John 18:33 , 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 (RSV, "palace"); and (3) the praetorian guard (See PALACE), 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.
These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.