Quaternion
Quaternion
(, from , the number four; Vulg._ quaternio, whence the English word)
St. Peter, arrested by King Herod Agrippa, was handed over to four quaternions of soldiers (Act 12:4), probably at the fortress Antonia. A quaternion was a guard consisting of four men, two of whom would be chained to the prisoner in the cell, while the other two kept watch outside (cf. Philo, in Flaccum, 13; Polyb. VI. xxxiii. 7). The second two were apparently the first ward (), which had to be passed before the iron gate was reached (Act 12:10). Four quaternions were required, as the night was divided in Roman fashion into four watches of three hours each.
James Strahan.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Quaternion
(, a body of fl.bur). A quaternion of soldiers (Act 12:4) was a detachment of four men, which was the usual number of a Roman night-watch (Veget. De Re de Milit. iii, 8; Philo, 2 In Flacc. p. 98; Polyb. 6:33, 37). SEE SOLDIER. Peter, therefore, was guarded by four soldiers, two within the prison, probably attached to his person, and two outside the doors; and, as the watch was usually changed every three hours, it was necessary that the four quaternions mentioned in the text should be appointed for the purpose. SEE PRISON. Or one set of sentinels may have been posted at the door of the cell (which was probably thought to be so secure as not to require a guard within), and another at the outer or street gate (Walch, De Vinclis Petri, in his Dissert. ad loc.). SEE PETER.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Quaternion
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 (12:6), and to two the apostle was chained according to Roman custom.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Quaternion
“A guard of four soldiers”, two attached to the prisoner, two outside his cell door. Four quaternions took by turns the guard over Peter for the four night watches (Act 12:4).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Quaternion
QUATERNION ().The word occurs only once in NT, and then not in the Gospels (Act 12:4); but we know that four soldiers at a time were ordinarily told off for work in the Roman army (Vegetius, de Re Milit. iii. 8), and that there were that number in charge of our Lords Crucifixion (Joh 19:23-24; cf. Evang. Petr. 9; see art. Coat).
C. L. Feltoe.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Quaternion
QUATERNION.A guard of four soldiers (Act 12:4).
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Quaternion
kwa-turni-un (, tetradion): The name given to a company of four soldiers of Herod’s army (Act 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 (Act 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 (Act 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.
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Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Quaternion
Quarternion
Quarternion. A ‘quaternion of soldiers’ (Act 12:4) was a detachment of four men, which was the usual number of a Roman night-watch. Peter, therefore, was guarded by four soldiers, two within the prison, and two outside the doors; and as the watch was usually changed every three hours, it was necessary that the ‘four quaternions’ mentioned in the text should be appointed for the purpose.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Quaternion
A party of ‘four soldiers.’ Four such parties were told off to guard Peter when in prison, that they might relieve each other every three hours in the night. Act 12:4.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Quaternion
A squad of four soldiers.
Act 12:4
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Quaternion
Quaternion. A body of four. Act 12:4-10. Four soldiers were appointed to keep guard during each of the four watches of the night. There were therefore sixteen in all. Of each quaternion probably two were in the prison, Peter being chained to them, and the other two were sentinels before the gatethe first and second guard.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Quaternion
Quaternion. 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. Act 12:4.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Quaternion
“a group of four” (tetra—, “four”), occurs in Act 12:4. A “quaternion” was a set of four men occupied in the work of a guard, two soldiers being chained to the prisoner and two keeping watch; alternatively one of the four watched while the other three slept. The night was divided into four watches of three hours each; there would be one “quaternion” for each watch by day and by night. Cp. the “guard” in Mat 27:65; Mat 28:11.