| |
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A band of four soldiers. Peter was committed by Herod
to the custody of four quaternions, i.e., one quaternion for each watch of the
night ( Acts
12:4 ). Thus every precaution was taken against his escape from prison. Two
of each quaternion were in turn stationed at the door ( Acts
12:6 ), and to two the apostle was chained according to Roman custom.
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
(no entry)
Smith's Bible Dictionary
A military term signifying a guard of four soldiers,
two of whom were attached to the person of a prisoner, while the other two kept
watch outside the door of his cell. ( Acts
12:4 )
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
kwa-tur'-ni-un (tetradion):
The name given to a company of four soldiers of Herod's army (Acts
12:4). To four such companies Peter had been handed over, who would take their
turn of acting as guard over the prisoner, each of the four watches of the night
according to Roman reckoning, which Herod Agrippa I would follow. In the castle
of Antonia Peter was thus closely secured, in order that Herod, who had already
killed James, the brother of John, with the sword (Acts
12:2), might, after the solemnities of the Passover, make sure of his death
likewise. On the night before his intended execution he was sleeping in his cell
between two soldiers, "bound with two chains," his left hand chained to one and
his right to the other. The other two soldiers of the quaternion mounted guard
before the door, and are spoken of as "the first and the second guard" (Acts
12:10) whom Peter and his angel guide had to pass on the way to liberty. The
Greek word thus rendered is not found in the Septuagint or anywhere else in the
New Testament.
T. Nicol
Tags:
4 soldiers, bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, four soldiers, quaternion
Comments:
|
 |
|
