The term "Judgment-hall" refers to a place where judicial proceedings were conducted, particularly in the context of Roman governance during the time of the New Testament. The Greek word often translated as "Judgment-hall" is "praetorium," which denotes the official residence of a Roman governor or the place where he conducted his judicial duties.

Biblical References:

1. John 18:28-29 : "Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early morning, and they did not enter the Praetorium to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and asked, 'What accusation are you bringing against this man?'" In this passage, the "Praetorium" is the place where Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, questioned Jesus. The Jewish leaders avoided entering to maintain ceremonial purity, highlighting the tension between Jewish customs and Roman authority.

2. Mark 15:16 : "Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together." Here, the "Praetorium" is described as a palace, indicating its dual function as both a residence and a place of judgment. This setting underscores the Roman military presence and authority in Jerusalem.

3. Acts 23:35 : "he said, 'I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.' Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace." Although the term "Judgment-hall" is not explicitly used here, Herod's palace served a similar function as a place of Roman judicial proceedings, where Paul was held under guard awaiting trial.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The Judgment-hall, or Praetorium, was a significant location in Roman provinces, serving as the center of administrative and judicial activity. It was typically located in the governor's residence, which was often a grand and fortified structure. The presence of the Praetorium in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus and the apostles reflects the Roman occupation and the imposition of Roman law over the Jewish populace.

The Praetorium was not only a place of judgment but also a symbol of Roman power and authority. It was here that Roman officials, such as Pilate, exercised their judicial responsibilities, often in cases involving capital punishment or matters of significant political concern. The interactions between Roman authorities and Jewish leaders in the Judgment-hall highlight the complex dynamics of power, law, and religion in the New Testament narrative.

Theological Significance:

The events that took place in the Judgment-hall, particularly the trial of Jesus, hold profound theological significance. The trial before Pilate in the Praetorium is a pivotal moment in the Passion narrative, where Jesus is unjustly condemned, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the suffering Messiah. The Judgment-hall serves as the backdrop for the confrontation between divine truth and human authority, where Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, is sentenced to crucifixion.

In Christian theology, the Judgment-hall represents the world's judgment of Christ, contrasting with the ultimate divine judgment that Christ will execute upon His return. It serves as a reminder of the suffering and injustice that Jesus endured for the salvation of humanity, and it calls believers to reflect on the nature of true justice and righteousness as revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.4232. praitorion -- Praetorium (official residence of a governor) ...
... Of Latin origin; the praetorium or governor's courtroom (sometimes including the
whole edifice and camp) -- (common, judgment) hall (of judgment), palace ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4232.htm - 7k

When Jesus to the Judgment Hall
... CHRISTMAS When Jesus to the judgment hall. 6,6,8,6,8,8. I. When Jesus to the judgment
hall. By cruel men was led,. He wore a purple robe of scorn,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the morningland/when jesus to the judgment.htm

In Pilate's Judgment Hall
... The DESIRE of AGES Chapter 77 In Pilate's Judgment Hall. ... In the judgment hall of
Pilate, the Roman governor, Christ stands bound as a prisoner. ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 77 in pilates judgment.htm

John Chapter xviii. 28-32.
... 2. "And it was morning; and they themselves," that is, those who brought Jesus,
"went not into the judgment hall," to wit, into that part of the house which ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxiv john chapter xviii.htm

Christ Before Pilate.
... Hence, early upon that Friday morning, the great dignitaries of Israel were assembled
before the hated judgment hall of Pilate, a building they could not enter ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/christ before pilate.htm

Further, the Martyrdom of Barsamya, the Bishop of the Blessed City ...
... the day after Lysinus, [3211] the judge of the country, had heard the case of Sharbil
the priest; as the judge was sitting in his judgment-hall, the Sharirs of ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/further the martyrdom of barsamya.htm

Art Thou a King?
... ART THOU A KING? '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 ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/art thou a king.htm

Antony, However, According to his Custom, Returned Alone to his ...
... And he was very zealous in the judgment hall to stir up to readiness those who were
summoned when in their contest, while those who were being martyred he ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 45.htm

Of the Absence of any Discrepancies in the Accounts which the ...
... He proceeds thus: "And they themselves went not into the judgment-hall, lest
they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter viii of the absence of.htm

A Homily on Guria and Shamuna, Composed by Mar Jacob.
... With guilelessness and yet with wisdom stood they in the judgment-hall,. ... Nor guileless
only: for in the judgment-hall with the wisdom of serpents too. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/a homily on guria and.htm

"The Lord is Risen"
... In this glorified Being they beheld the prisoner whom they had seen in the judgment
hall, the one for whom they had plaited a crown of thorns. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 81 the lord is.htm

Judgment-hall (4 Occurrences)
Judgment-hall. Judgment-day, Judgment-hall. Judgments .
Multi-Version Concordance Judgment-hall (4 Occurrences). John ...
/j/judgment-hall.htm - 7k

Praetorium (8 Occurrences)
... The Greek word (praitorion) thus rendered in Mark 15:16 is rendered "common hall"
(Matthew 27:27, marg., "governor's house"), "judgmenthall," (John 18:28, 33 ...
/p/praetorium.htm - 14k

Judgment (430 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Judgmenthall. Gr. ... HE Jacobs. JUDGMENTHALL. juj'-ment
hol (to praitorion, "Then led they Jesus.... unto the hall of judgment.... ...
/j/judgment.htm - 52k

Palace (194 Occurrences)
... hand, "palace" takes the place in the Revised Version (British and American) of
the King James Version "common hall" or "judgmenthall" (praitorion, Matthew 27 ...
/p/palace.htm - 40k

Peter (181 Occurrences)
... The Galilean accent stuck to Simon all through his career. It betrayed him as a
follower of Christ when he stood within the judgment-hall (Mark 14:70). ...
/p/peter.htm - 101k

Hall (30 Occurrences)
...JUDGMENTHALL. ... (KJV WBS). John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgmenthall again,
and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? ...
/h/hall.htm - 19k

Judgment-day (4 Occurrences)
Judgment-day. Judgment, Judgment-day. Judgment-hall . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Judgment, Judgment-day. Judgment-hall . Reference Bible.
/j/judgment-day.htm - 7k

Gabbatha (1 Occurrence)
... A judgement-seat (bema) was placed on this "pavement" outside the hall of the
"praetorium" (qv), the judgment-hall (John 18:28; 19:13). Int. ...
/g/gabbatha.htm - 8k

Felix (11 Occurrences)
... On his arrival, Paul was presented to Felix and was then detained for five days
in the judgmenthall of Herod, till his accusers should also reach Caesarea ...
/f/felix.htm - 15k

Pavement (9 Occurrences)
... coloured stones. It was probably a place thus prepared in front of the "judgment
hall." (see GABBATHA.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1 ...
/p/pavement.htm - 11k

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