Lexical Summary praitórion: Praetorium, governor's headquarters, palace Original Word: πραιτώριον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance courtroom, hall of judgment, palace, praetorium. Of Latin origin; the praetorium or governor's courtroom (sometimes including the whole edifice and camp) -- (common, judgment) hall (of judgment), palace, praetorium. HELPS Word-studies 4232 praitṓrion – properly, a governor's house (Latin, praetorium). 4232 (praitṓrion) is used of: NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Latin origin Definition Praetorium (official residence of a governor), praetorian guard NASB Translation praetorian guard (1), Praetorium (7). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4232: πραιτώριονπραιτώριον, πραιτωριου, τό, a Latin word,praetorium (neuter of the adjectivepraetorius used substantively); the word denotes 1. 'headquarters' in a Roman camp, the tent of the commander-in-chief. 2. the palace in which the governor or procurator of a province resided, to which use the Romans were accustomed to appropriate the palaces already existing, and formerly dwelt in by the kings or princes (at Syracuse illa domus praetoria, quae regis Hieronis fuit, Cicero, Verr. 2:5, 12, 30); at Jerusalem it was that magnificent palace which Herod the Great had built for himself, and which the Roman procurators seem to have occupied whenever they came from Caesarea to Jerusalem to transact public business: Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16; John 18:28, 33; John 19:9; cf. Philo, leg. ad Gaium, § 38; Josephus, b. j. 2, 14, 8; also the one at Caesarea, Acts 23:35. Cf. Keim, iii, p. 359f. (English translation, vi., p. 79; B. D. under the word 3. the camp of praetorian soldiers established by Tiberius (Suetonius 37): Philippians 1:13. Cf. Winers RWB, under the word Richthaus; (Lightfoots Commentary on Philippians, pp. 99ff) rejects, as destitute of evidence, the various attempts to give a local sense to the word in Philippians, the passage cited, and vindicates the meaning praetorian guard (so R. V.)). The term designates the official Roman residence or headquarters of a provincial governor or military commander and, by extension, those who served under his authority. Within the New Testament it functions as a place-name and as a metonym for the imperial guard itself, providing both geographical setting and social context for pivotal redemptive events. Historical Background of the Praetorium In the Roman Republic the praetorium was the general’s field tent; under the Empire it evolved into the permanent palace of a provincial procurator. Architectural features commonly included audience halls, barracks, and attached courts for legal proceedings. In Judea two principal sites shared the title: Herod the Great’s palace in Caesarea, where governors normally resided, and the fortress-like complex in Jerusalem used during feasts when crowds swelled. The term also applied in Rome to the elite cohort of soldiers (Praetorian Guard) stationed near the emperor’s palace on the Palatine Hill. New Testament Occurrences 1. Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16 – Roman soldiers gather around Jesus inside the Jerusalem Praetorium. Jesus before Pilate “Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around Him.” (Matthew 27:27) The palace precinct frames the climactic clash between earthly and heavenly authority. Roman justice stands in ironic judgment on the true Judge. The setting underscores prophetic fulfillment (Isaiah 53:7) and highlights the trans-national scope of the atonement: Gentile authorities, not only Jewish leaders, play their part, signaling that Christ’s sacrifice reaches beyond Israel to the nations. Paul’s Chains and the Advance of the Gospel “So that it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that my chains are in Christ.” (Philippians 1:13) Paul’s earlier detainment in Caesarea (Acts 23:35) foreshadows his later Roman imprisonment. Guard shifts rotated through his quarters, turning involuntary proximity into evangelistic opportunity. The very institution designed to silence him becomes the amplifier of his testimony, illustrating God’s sovereignty over political powers and validating the promise that “the word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9). Symbolic and Theological Implications 1. Sovereignty: Both Jesus and Paul stand inside imperial strongholds, yet the narrative emphasizes divine purpose directing events. Application for Ministry Today Believers often find themselves under secular scrutiny—courtrooms, offices, barracks. The Praetorium texts encourage readiness to testify regardless of venue, confidence that Christ’s lordship extends into government halls, and assurance that trials, even unjust ones, may serve the furtherance of the gospel. Related Old Testament Concepts • Joseph before Pharaoh (Genesis 41) parallels Paul before governors: a righteous man in foreign custody advancing God’s plan. From Jesus’ silent dignity before Pilate to Paul’s bold proclamation before the guard, the Praetorium scenes weave a consistent biblical thread: God positions His servants within worldly power centers so that kings, soldiers, and all nations might hear the truth of Jesus Christ. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 27:27 N-ANSGRK: εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον συνήγαγον ἐπ' NAS: Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered KJV: into the common hall, and gathered INT: to the praetorium gathered against Mark 15:16 N-NNS John 18:28 N-ANS John 18:28 N-ANS John 18:33 N-ANS John 19:9 N-ANS Acts 23:35 N-DNS Philippians 1:13 N-DNS Strong's Greek 4232 |
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