Lexical Summary speira: Cohort, band, company Original Word: σπεῖρα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cohortOf immediate Latin origin, but ultimately a derivative of haireomai in the sense of its cognate heilisso; a coil (spira, "spire"), i.e. (figuratively) a mass of men (a Roman military cohort; also (by analogy) a squad of Levitical janitors) -- band. see GREEK heilisso see GREEK haireomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Latin origin Definition anything wound up or coiled, by ext. a body (of soldiers), i.e. a cohort NASB Translation cohort (7). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4686: σπεῖρασπεῖρα (on the accent cf. Buttmann, 11; Chandler § 161; Tdf. Proleg., p. 102), ἡ, genitive σπείρης (Acts 10:1; Acts 21:31; Acts 27:1; see (Tdf. Proleg., p. 117; WH's Appendix, p. 156; and) μάχαιρα, at the beginning) (cognate with σπυρίς (which see)); a. Latinspira; anything rolled into a circle or ball, anything wound, rolled up, folded together. b. a military cohort (Polybius 11, 23, 1 τρεῖς σπείρας. τοῦτο δέ καλεῖται τό σύνταγμα τῶν πεζῶν παρά Ῥωμαίοις κωρτις), i. e. the tenth part of a legion (i. e. about 600 men (i. e. legionaries), or if auxilialies either 500 or 1,000; cf. Marquardt, Römisch. Alterth. III. ii., p. 371. But surely τοῦτο τό σύνταγμα in the quotation comprehends the τρεῖς σπεῖρα; hence, Polybius here makes a σπεῖρα equal to a maniple, cf. 2, 3, 2; 6, 24, 5; cf. Zonaras, Lex., p. 1664, σπεῖρα σύνταγμα διακοσίων ἀνδρῶν. On the other hand, "the later Greek writings almost uniformly employ σπεῖρα as the representative of cohors" (Smith, Dict. of Antiq., edition 2, under the word exercitus, p. 500); and the rise of χιλίαρχος (which was the equivalent of tribunus, the commander of a cohort) in connection with it (John 18:12; Acts 21:31), together with the uniform rendering of the word by cohors in the Latin versions, warrants the margin cohort uniformly added in R. V. to the rendering band): Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16; Acts 10:1; Acts 21:31; Acts 27:1, and often in Josephus; a maniple, or the thirtieth part of a legion, often so in Polybius ((see above)); any band, company, or detachment, of soldiers (2 Macc. 8:23; Judith 14:11): John 18:3, 12. Strong’s Greek 4686 designates a Roman military unit commonly rendered “cohort” or “band.” In the first-century world a cohort was the basic tactical subdivision of a legion and could vary in strength from a detachment of several dozen troops to a full complement of about six hundred. The term therefore evokes the presence, authority, and methods of the imperial army wherever it appears in Scripture. Occurrences in the New Testament • Matthew 27:27 Together these seven occurrences trace a sweep from the arrest and mockery of Jesus to the missionary expansion of the Church and the journeys of the Apostle Paul. Historical Background The Roman cohort sat midway between the smaller “century” (about eighty men under a centurion) and the larger legion (roughly six thousand). Cohorts stationed in Judea included both regular legionary detachments and auxiliary units recruited from non-Romans; the “Italian Cohort” of Acts 10:1 was a prized imperial formation composed of volunteers from Italy itself. Cohorts often shared forts with the Temple guard in Jerusalem, which explains their ready deployment in the Gospel narratives. Role in the Passion Narrative 1. John 18:3 – “So Judas took a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.” A cohort, together with Jewish officers, underscores the calculated alliance of religious and civil power in the arrest of Jesus, yet even this display of force could not prevent Jesus from voluntarily surrendering (John 18:4-8). 2. John 18:12 – “Then the band of soldiers, their commander, and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.” The binding of the Messiah by Roman troops fulfills the prophetic vision that the Gentiles would conspire with Israel’s leaders against the Anointed One (Psalm 2:1-2). 3. Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16 – The cohort stationed at the Praetorium assembled to mock Jesus with a robe, a crown of thorns, and a reed scepter, foreshadowing the paradox of the cross: the One ridiculed as a fake king is in truth the King of kings (Revelation 19:16). Roman Authority and the Early Church Acts 21:31 pictures a Jerusalem crowd seizing Paul; the cohort’s swift intervention prevents his death. Here Rome’s authority, often wielded against believers, unexpectedly preserves the apostle so that he may continue proclaiming the gospel before rulers (Acts 23:11). Likewise, Acts 27:1 introduces Paul’s voyage to Rome under the custody of a centurion of the Augustan cohort, positioning him to testify in the heart of the empire (Acts 28:30-31). The Gospel Among the Gentiles Acts 10:1 presents Cornelius, “a centurion in what was called the Italian Cohort,” whose household receives the Holy Spirit. This watershed moment proves that “God does not show favoritism” (Acts 10:34) and that Gentiles share equally in the New Covenant promises. The military setting accentuates the reach of grace: even Rome’s disciplined ranks are receptive to the word of life. Theological Significance 1. Sovereignty of God: The repetition of the cohort motif demonstrates that earthly power structures cannot thwart divine purposes. Whether arresting Jesus or escorting Paul, the cohort serves—knowingly or not—the unfolding plan of redemption. Practical Ministry Applications • Engagement with Civil Authorities: The New Testament portrayal of cohorts encourages respectful interaction with governing bodies (Romans 13:1-7) while trusting God’s providence in every circumstance. Summary Strong’s Greek 4686 highlights the intersection of Roman military power with the revelation of the gospel. From Gethsemane to Caesarea, from mocking games to Spirit-filled households, the cohort thread affirms that no earthly force can forestall the mission of God or the advance of His kingdom. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 27:27 N-AFSGRK: ὅλην τὴν σπεῖραν NAS: the whole [Roman] cohort around KJV: him the whole band [of soldiers]. INT: all the battalion Mark 15:16 N-AFS John 18:3 N-AFS John 18:12 N-NFS Acts 10:1 N-GFS Acts 21:31 N-GFS Acts 27:1 N-GFS Strong's Greek 4686 |
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