Mark 15:16

Οἱ δὲ στρατιῶται. Some of the troops under the command of the Procurator, brought to Jerusalem to maintain order during the Feast. Again we have δέ to mark a change of subject; see on Mark 7:24; Mark 10:32; Mark 14:1; Mark 15:16.

ἔσω τῆς αὐλῆς. This implies that the scourging had been inflicted elsewhere; but whether inside the building, or outside, is not clear.

ὅ ἐστιν πραιτώριον. This loose conversational statement is quite in Mk’s style, and Blass’ proposal to substitute τοῦ πραιτωρίου is not needed. Whether the αὐλή was partly or wholly roofed, or not roofed at all, it is strange that it should be identified with the whole building. Probably the αὐλή was the only part that was open to the public, and therefore, when people spoke of the Praetorium, they meant its αὐλή. Or Mk in his conversational manner may be stating “I mean the praetorium-court”; but, even if we were sure of this, we should not be justified in altering his wording. It is perhaps possible that the soldiers’ quarters in the Procurator’s palace is meant. In A.V., πραιτώριον is translated in five different ways. In the Gospels it seems always to mean the residence of the Procurator. See on John 18:28.

ὅλην τὴν σπεῖραν. Again a loose conversational expression; it obviously means all the members of the cohort who were within hearing at the moment. The men on duty in connexion with the trial and the execution summon all who are near at hand to come and make sport of “the King of the Jews.” Possibly σπεῖρα does not mean a full cohort of 500 or 600 men.