Bible Dictionaries
Praetorium

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The Greek word (praitorion) thus rendered in Mark 15:16 is rendered "common hall" ( Matthew 27:27 , marg., "governor's house"), "judgment hall," (John 18:28,33 , marg., "Pilate's house", 19:9; Acts 23:35 ), "palace" (Philippians 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.