Judgment-Hall

The judgment hall is where Jesus was tried by Pilate. John tells us the leaders “went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled,” because they wanted to eat the passover; so Pilate came out to them, and later went in again and asked Jesus, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” Matthew and Mark record that soldiers then took him to the hall called Praetorium. Acts places Paul under guard in “Herod’s judgment hall,” and Paul writes that his chains had become known throughout the palace. John 18 is the passage to open first.

7 verses

Matthew

Matthew 27:27

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

Mark

Mark 15:16

And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

John

John 18:28

Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

John 18:33

Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

John 19:9

And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Acts

Acts 23:35

I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

Philippians

Philippians 1:13

So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Gr. praitorion (John 18:28, 33; 19:9; Matt. 27:27), “common hall.” In all these passages the Revised Version renders “palace.” In Mark 15:16 the word is rendered “Praetorium” (q.v.), which is a Latin word, meaning literally the residence of the praetor, and then the governor’s residence in general, though not a praetor. Throughout the Gospels the word “praitorion” has this meaning (comp. Acts 23:35). Pilate’s official residence when he was in Jerusalem was probably a part of the fortress of Antonia.

The trial of our Lord was carried on in a room or office of the palace. The “whole band” spoken of by Mark were gathered together in the palace court.

Read the full entry

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

The word praetorium is so translated five times in the Authorized Version of the New Testament, and in those five passages it denotes two different places.

(1.) In (John 18:28,33; 19:9) it is the residence which Pilate occupied when he visited Jerusalem. The site of Pilate’s praetorium in Jerusalem has given rise to much dispute, some supposing it to be the palace of King Herod, others the tower of Antonia; but it was probably the latter, which was then and long afterward the citadel of Jerusalem.

(2.) In (Acts 23:35) Herod’s judgment hall or praetorium in Caesarea was doubtless a part of that magnificent range of buildings the erection of which by King Herod is described in Josephus. The word "palace," or "Caesar’s court." in the Authorized Version of (Philemon 1:13) is a translation of the same word praetorium. It may here have denoted the quarter of that detachment of the praetorian guards which was in immediate attendance upon the emperor, and had barracks in Mount Palatine at Rome.