Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 15:16

"And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they call together the whole band." — Mark 15:16 (ASV)

The scourging of Jesus took place out in front of the palace of Herod and in the presence of all the people. Afterward Jesus was taken by the soldiers into the “palace” (“the Praetorium”). “Praetorium” is a Latin loan word in Greek, here designating the Roman governor’s official residence in Jerusalem . The soldiers who led Jesus into the palace and then mocked and manhandled him were a part of the auxiliary troops Pilate had brought up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. They were non-Jews recruited from Palestine and other parts of the empire. Mark says the whole company took part in their perverted humor.