| Word | American Tract Society - Definition |
| PRETORIUM | A name given in the gospels to the house in which dwelt the Roman governor of Jerusalem, Mr 15:16. Here he sat in his judicial capacity, and here Jesus was brought before him. See GABRATHA. This was the palace built by Herod at Jerusalem, near the tower of Antonia, with which it had communication. It was a magnificent building, and inclosed a spacious court, Mt 27:27 Mr 15:16 Joh 18:28,33. Here the Roman procurators resided whenever they visited Jerusalem, their headquarters being at Caesarea, Ac 23:23 25:1. The pretorium or palace of Herod (English translation, "judgment-hall") at Caesarea is also mentioned in Ac 23:35. Paul speaks also of the pretorium (English translation, "palace") at Rome, in which he gave testimony to Christ, Php 1:13. Some think that by this he means the palace of the emperor Nero; and others, that he intends the place where the roman Praetor sat to administer justice, that is, his tribunal. Other have maintained, with greater probability, that under the name of the pretorium at Rome, Paul would express the camp of the pretorium soldiers, whither he might have been carried by the soldier that always accompanied him, and who was fastened to him by a chain, as the manner was among the Romans. |