The Praetorian Guard and Saint Paul

[M. CVRIVS ALEXANDER]

But I'm not so sure that the Praetorians were not involved in Paul's incarceration. Paul says in Phillipians 1:13 : "so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ". It sounds like there was some kind of contact with the guard. Or is there another meaning for "praetorium" ?

Phil. 1:13 uses the Greek word that stands for "praetorium." The word came to designate the governor's residence, so in Mat. 27:27; Mark 15:16; John 18:28, 33; 19:9. Obviously, in the gospel passages the praetorium is situated in Jerusalem, so it refers to the residence of the praefectus and not to the Praetorian Guard in Rome. Also, according to Acts 23:35, while in Caesarea, Paul was imprisoned in the "praetorium of Herod." So, Phil. 1:13 could refer to that very instance. Note that while in Caesarea, Paul preached to two Roman governors, to a Jewish king, and to others present, which would accommodate the language of Phil. 1:13 - "...became known to the entire praetorium and everyone else". The passage could also refer to any other imprisonment of Paul at governor's quarters, as well as to his imprisonment in Rome, in which case it could indeed refer to the Praetorian Guard.