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Bible Dictionaries
Judgment Hall
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
or Latin praetorium Graecized (John 18:28; John 18:33; John 19:9; Acts 23:35). It is translated Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16, "common hall"; and in Philippians 1:13 "palace." It is Pilate's residence when at Jerusalem, where Jesus was examined, scourged, and mocked. The Jews, to avoid defilement before the Passover, waited outside, near the judgment seat which was erected on the pavement before the Praetorium, and on which Pilate sat in pronouncing sentence. Probably the tower of Antonia was the Praetorium of Pilate.
Herod was then at Jerusalem, doubtless in his father's palace, which therefore is distinct from the Praetorium (Luke 23:7). However Josephus (B. J. 2:14, section 8) represents the Roman governor as sometimes residing in Herod's palace, and setting up his judgment seat in front of it. (See JERUSALEM.) In Acts 23:35 Herod's Praetorium was part of the magnificent buildings erected by king Herod (Josephus, Ant. 20:9, section 6, B. J. 1:21, section 5-8), used as the official residence and head quarters of Felix at Caesarea. "Palace," in Philippians 1:13, means the quarters of praetorian guards immediately attached to Caesar's palace on Mount Palatine (compare Philippians 4:22; Acts 28:16).
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Fausset, Andrew R. Entry for 'Judgment Hall'. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/fbd/j/judgment-hall.html. 1949.
