Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the New Testament, the term "cohort" refers to a Roman military unit. The Greek word used is "σπεῖρα" (speira), which is often translated as "cohort" in English. A cohort was a standard tactical military unit of the Roman army, typically consisting of about 480 soldiers, though the number could vary. It was part of a larger legion, which was composed of ten cohorts, making the legion a formidable force of approximately 4,800 soldiers.
Biblical References:The term "cohort" appears in several passages in the New Testament, particularly in the context of the events surrounding the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. One notable instance is found in the Gospel of John:
·
John 18:3: "So Judas brought a cohort of soldiers, along with officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden with lanterns, torches, and weapons."
In this passage, the cohort is part of the group that comes to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The presence of a Roman cohort underscores the seriousness with which the authorities approached the arrest, indicating the perceived threat Jesus posed to both the Jewish leaders and the Roman governance.
Another reference to a cohort is found in the account of the Apostle Paul's life:
·Acts 10:1: "At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment."
Here, the term "regiment" is synonymous with "cohort," and Cornelius is identified as a centurion, a commander of a hundred soldiers within the cohort. Cornelius is significant as a God-fearing Gentile who receives a vision from God, leading to Peter's visit and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, marking a pivotal moment in the early Church's mission to the non-Jewish world.
Historical and Cultural Context:
The Roman military was a highly organized and disciplined force, and the cohort was a key component of its structure. Each cohort was led by a tribune and further divided into centuries, each commanded by a centurion. The presence of Roman cohorts in Judea during the time of Jesus and the early Church reflects the Roman Empire's control over the region and its efforts to maintain order and suppress any potential uprisings.
The use of Roman military terms in the New Testament not only provides historical context but also serves to highlight the tension between the early Christian movement and the existing political and religious authorities. The Roman cohort, as a symbol of imperial power, contrasts with the spiritual kingdom that Jesus proclaimed, emphasizing the distinct nature of His mission and the challenges faced by His followers.
Theological Implications:
From a theological perspective, the interactions between Roman cohorts and key figures in the New Testament narrative illustrate the broader theme of God's sovereignty over human history. Despite the might of the Roman Empire, God's purposes are ultimately fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The involvement of Roman soldiers in these events serves as a reminder of the pervasive reach of God's redemptive plan, extending beyond the Jewish people to encompass all nations and peoples.
The account of Cornelius and his cohort further underscores the inclusivity of the Gospel message. The conversion of a Roman centurion and his household signifies the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles, fulfilling the promise that the Gospel would be a light to all nations. This event marks a significant step in the early Church's understanding of its mission and the universal scope of God's salvation.Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A body of about five or six hundred soldiers; the tenth part of a legion.2. (n.) Any band or body of warriors.
3. (n.) A natural group of orders of plants, less comprehensive than a class.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
COHORTko'-hort: In the Revised Version, margin ofMatthew 27:27Mark 15:16John 18:3, 12Acts 10:1;Acts 21:31;Acts 27:1, the translation of speira (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), "band"); the tenth part of a legion; ordinarily about 600 men. InJohn 18 the word seems to be used loosely of a smaller body of soldiers, a detachment, detail.
SeeARMY;BAND.
Greek
4686. speira -- anything wound up or coiled, by ext. a body (of...... a body (of soldiers), ie a
cohort. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
speira Phonetic Spelling: (spi'-rah) Short Definition: a
cohort Definition: a
...5010. taxis -- an arranging, order
... in His confinement" (, 904). 5010 (), as an ancient military term, describes
an ("cohort") -- descending . This term suggests a...
Library
The ItalicCohort Inscription (Lapis Carnuntensis)
... THE ITALICCOHORT INSCRIPTION (LAPIS CARNUNTENSIS). PROCVLVS RABILI ?� ?�
COL PHILADEL ?� MIL ?� OPTIO ?� COH ?�II ITALIC C ?� R...
Of the Mockery which He Sustained at the Hands of Pilate'sCohort...
... Chapter IX."Of the Mockery Which He Sustained at the Hands of Pilate'sCohort, and
of the Harmony Subsisting Among the Three Evangelists Who Report that Scene...
It was a Clear Morning and the Tenth Day Before the Kalends of...
... Since the ides, Vergilius had been lying in camp with acohort, near the port
of Ascalon.... Thecohort had formed in a long arc at the landing....
Some Associated Questions
... [116]. The reference in Acts 10:1 to an ItalicCohort (of which Cornelius was a
centurion) has caused some difficulty and discussion in recent years....
The Festival of Games, in Honor of Augustus, were About to Begin...
... Behind its iron bars a large lion paced up and down. Two hundred mounted men of
thecohort stood in triple rank some fifty paces from the scene....
John Chapter xviii. 1-12.
... "Judas then," he adds, "having received acohort, and officers from the chief men
and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons...
The Inscription of Aemilius Secundus (Lapis Venetus)
... ECTCOHORT ?� AVG ?� I ?� PRaEF ?�COHORT ?� II ?� CLASSIC E ?� IDEM ?� IVSSV ?� QVIRINI ?�
CENSVM ?� EGI ^1 0 APAMENAE ?� CIVITATIS ?� MIL LIVM ?� HOMIN...
Death of Jesus.
... Jesus was therefore delivered to acohort of auxiliary troops, and all the most
hateful features of executions introduced by the cruel habits of the new...
Jesus Betrayed, Arrested, and Forsaken.
... The word "band" used by John to describe part of it is speira, which is the Greek
name for thecohort, a division of the Roman army which in the time of...
Gethsemane
... But during the Feast the Temple itself was guarded by an armedCohort, consisting
of from 400 to 600 men, [5860] so as to prevent or quell any tumult among the...
Thesaurus
Cohort (7 Occurrences)... class. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
COHORT. ko
... detail. See ARMY; BAND.
Multi-Version Concordance
Cohort (7 Occurrences). Matthew
...Band (150 Occurrences)
... (g) (speira): usually a "cohort" (see the Revised Version, margin) of Roman soldiers;
the tenth part of a legion, about 600 men: (Matthew 27:27 Mark 15:16 Acts...
Arrest (22 Occurrences)
... He granted them acohort (Greek: speira, 400 to 600 men) from the legion then quartered
in the castle of Antonia, which adjoined and overlooked the temple-area...
Trial (45 Occurrences)
... He granted them acohort (Greek: speira, 400 to 600 men) from the legion then quartered
in the castle of Antonia, which adjoined and overlooked the temple-area...
Julius (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The centurion of the Augustancohort, or the emperor's
body-guard, in whose charge Paul was sent prisoner to Rome (Acts 27:1, 3, 43)....
Cornelius (10 Occurrences)
... 10:22). He was a centurion in the Italiancohort. To... Italian volunteers.
With thiscohort Cornelius was connected as centurion. 2...
Army (401 Occurrences)
... David's gibborim have been compared to the PraetorianCohort of the Roman emperors,
the Janissaries of the sultans, and the Swiss Guards of the French kings....
Led (260 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV NIV). Mark 15:16 The soldiers led him away within the court, which
is the Praetorium; and they called together the wholecohort....
Inside (185 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Mark 15:16 The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the
Praetorium; and they called together the wholecohort. (See RSV)....
Italian (1 Occurrence)
... Italian band. The name of the Romancohort to which Cornelius belonged (Acts
10:1), so called probably because it consisted of men recruited in Italy....
Resources
What was a Roman centurion? | GotQuestions.orgWhat happened between Paul's third and fourth missionary journeys? | GotQuestions.orgCohort: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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