Ann. xv. 44).
The procurator of Judxa resided principally at Csarea, and the military forces were generally stationed there (Joseph. Ant q xviii. 3. During the Passover the troops were stationed at Jerusalem, in order to prevent any insurrection from the multi tude of visitors at that festival (Acts xxi. 31 ; xxii. 24; xxiii. 23 ; Joseph. Antiq. xx. 5. 3). The troops consisted of infantry and cavalry (Acts xxiii. 23), and were commanded by tribunes (xtXtdpxoL, Acts xxiii. 17) and centurions (Kevrupicoves, Mark xv. 39, 44, 45 ; gicarovrcipxot, Matt. viii. 5 ; xxvii. 54 ; Acts x. 22). The fortner were at the head of the cohorts (arelpw.), and the latter at the head of the centuria, of which two made a maniple [Amyl It was the duty of the soldiers to execute the sen tence of death and to keep guard over the prisoners (Matt. xxvii. 27, seq. ; John xix. 23, sq. ; cf. Acts XXii. 25), and the garments of those who were exe cuted became their perquisite (John xix. 23). They also guarded the prisoners (Acts xxiii. 23 ; xxvii. 31). In Acts x. I mention is made of the Italian band at Cresarea. This was probably a cohort serving in Syria composed of natives of Italy, and called 'IraNuch to distinguish it from those which consisted of troops raised in Syria (Joseph. Antth. xiv. 15. To ; Bell. 7zul. 17. I), as we know from Gruter (Inscr. ccccxxxiv. I) that Italian cohorts were serving in Syria. The Zirelpn Mepao-7t (Acts xxvii. r) could not well be a cohors Augusta, as Winer thinks cReabv., s.v. lUmer), for no legions were in Syria or Judma bearing that title, nor could it be the band levied from Samaria (am iir7r4(op KaXovylvn lePaaryvi,lv, Joseph. Antiq. xix. 9. 2 ; xx. 6. ; Bell. yud. 12. 5). Wieseler suggests that it was the Augustani mentioned by Tacitus (Ann. xiv. 15) and Suetonius (Nero, 20, 25). The first levying of this band by Augustus is recorded by Dion Cassius (xlv. 12).
Some of the cities within the provinces were free cities, like Thessalonica, at which there was an assembly of the people (nuros, Acts xvii. 5) and supreme magistrates called politarchs (Acts xvii. 8). So also were Antioch in Syria, Tarsus, and Athens. Others were colonies, like Philippi, Troas, or Antioch in Pisidia, whose affairs were regulated by crrparn-yol (A. V. magistrates, Acts xvi. 22). Their proper title was thiumvir, but they pre ferred calling themselves by the Roman title prwtor (C. and H., i. 345). They were usually attended by lictors PagSovxol, A. V. serjeants, Acts xvi. 35).
Under this arrangement the welfare of the pro vinces was greater than it had been under the re public, but the condition of those provinces over which Augustus had special control was often pre ferable to that of the others, instances being re corded of some of the senatorial provinces request ing to be transferred to the rule of the emperor (Tac. Ann. i. 76).
Seeing how great the privileges of a Roman citizen were, the eagerness with which it was sought, and the earnestness with which it was pleaded in case of any unjust treatment, is not to be wondered at. The freedom of Rome was often obtained by purchase for great sums (Acts xxii. 28), though at the time of Claudius it is said that it became so cheap it might be bought for a little broken glass (Dthn Cass., lx. 17). A citizen under the republic could in criminal cases, if he were so minded, appeal from the magistrates to the people, for without the acquiescence of the whole Roman people no man could be put to death (Cic., Disc. Quasi., 4. ;
In Verr., 54, 57). At the commencement of the imperial period it was, however, necessary that the appeal should be made to the emperor, who had assumed the privilege of final adjudication. It was thus that St. Paul, when being tried before Festus, appealed unto Cmsar' (Acts xxv. ; xxvi. 32), ful filling our Lord's words that he should bear witness also at Rome' (Acts xxiii. ; xxvii. 23 ; xxviii. 14, 16, 17 ; Tim. i. 17 ; iv. 17). St. Paul remained a prisoner about two years, but his trial resulted in his acquittal. About four years after he was arrested at .Nicopolis, and sent to Rome for trial. This was at the time of the great fire at Rome under Nero, and the charge of conspiring to set fire to Rome formed one part of the accusation brought against him. He was executed at Rome in the summer of A. D. 68 (cf. C. and H., vol. ii. passim) [ST. PAtal. The scourging of a, Roman citizen was contrary to the law, and St. Paul, by the as sertion of his Roman citizenship, prevented Claudius Lysias from ordering him to be scourged (Acts xxii. 26-29 ; xxiii. 27). At an earlier period Paul and Silas had been scourged (Acts xvi. 37), and two Roman laws thereby violated (Lex Valeria, B. C. 508 ; Lex Porcia, B. C. 300). They were also illegally treated, being `uncondemned' (Cic. Verr. i. 9 ; Tac. Hist. i. 6) [CiTEENsHrtS The treatment that the Jews received at the hands of the Romans was at times very moderate. Under Julius Cmsar they were not forbidden to live according to their customs even in Rome itself (Joseph. Antiq. xiv. 1o. 8), and Augustus ordered that they should have full freedom of worship, hold their assemblies, and make gifts to their temple ; they were even admitted with the citizens to a share in the largesses of corn (Philo, ad Cai, p. 1015 ; cf. Hor. Sat. 9. 69) ; and when it fell upon the Sabbath day, Aug-ustus allowed it to be put off to the next day. They were also exempted from military service on account of their religious prejudices (Joseph. Antiq. xiv. 10. ii-19; xvi. 6 ; cf. xix. 5. 3). Suetonius (Cas. 84) records that the Jews were in great grief at the death of Augustus. Tiberius and Claudius banished them from Rome, the latter on account of tumults caused by a certain Chrestus (Tac. Ann. ii. 85; Suet. Tib. 36 ; cf. Joseph. Antiq. xviii. 3. 5 ; Suet. Claud. 25 ; Acts xviii. 2) [CLAumus] ; but the expulsion by Claudius is contradicted by Dion Cassius (lx. 6), and a few years after the Jews were again at Rome in great numbers (Acts xxviii. [7, seq.) The administration of religious cere monies was committed to the high-priest and San hedrim ; civil and criminal jurisprudence was re tained by them, and they were permitted to pass the sentence of condemnation, but its execution depended upon the procurator (Joseph. Antiq. XX. 9. ; Mark xiv. ; John xviii. 31). It is not lawful for us to put any man to death ' (John, /. c.) [See Alford's note on this passage, and Biscoe On the Acts, pp. 134-167.] The stone ing of Stephen probably took place during a tumult, and not with the sanction of the procu rator (Acts vii. 28). Even beyond the borders of Palestine the Jews exercised among themselves the civil jurisdiction according to their laws. Jose phus (Antiq. xiv. io. 17) gives a Roman decree to the city of Sardis sanctioning this privilege.