Palace: Used now only of royal dwellings, although originally meaning simply
(as the Latin word palatium, from which it is derived, shows) a
building surrounded by a fence or a paling. In the Authorized Version
there are many different words so rendered, presenting different
ideas, such as that of1. citadel or lofty fortress or royal residence
(Nehemiah 1:1; Daniel 8:2)
2. It is the name given to the temple fortress
(Nehemiah 2:8)
3. and to the temple itself
(1 Chronicles 29:1)
4. It denotes also a spacious building or a great house
(Daniel 1:4; 4:4,29)
(Esther 1:5; 7:7)
5. and a fortified place or an enclosure
(Ezekiel 25:4)
6. Solomon's palace is described in
(1 Kings 7:1-12) as a series of
buildings rather than a single great structure. Thirteen years
were spent in their erection. This palace stood on the eastern hill,
adjoining the temple on the south.
7. In the New Testament it designates the official residence of Pilate
or that of the high priest
(Matthew 26:3,58,69; Mark 14:54,66; John 18:15)
8. In
(Philippians 1:13) this word is the rendering of the Greek praitorion,
meaning the praetorian cohorts at Rome (the life-guard of the
Caesars). Paul was continually chained to a soldier of that corps
(Acts 28:16) and hence his name and sufferings became known in all
the praetorium. The "soldiers that kept" him would, on relieving
one another on guard, naturally spread the tidings regarding him
among their comrades. Some, however, regard the praetroium (q.v.)
as the barrack within the palace (the palatium) of the Caesars in
Rome where a detachment of these praetorian guards was stationed,
or as the camp of the guards placed outside the eastern walls of
Rome. "In the chambers which were occupied as guard-rooms," says
Dr. Manning, "by the praetorian troops on duty in the palace, a
number of rude caricatures are found roughly scratched upon the
walls, just such as may be seen upon barrack walls in every part of
the world. Amongst these is one of a human figure nailed upon a
cross. To add to the 'offence of the cross,' the crucified one is
represented with the head of an animal, probably that of an ass.
Before it stands the figure of a Roman legionary with one hand
upraised in the attitude of worship. Underneath is the rude,
misspelt, ungrammatical inscription, Alexamenos worships his god.
It can scarcely be doubted that we have here a contemporary
caricature, executed by one of the praetorian guard, ridiculing the
faith of a Christian comrade."
