Quater'nion (τετράδιον, a body of fl.bur). "A quaternion of soldiers" (Ac 12:4) was a detachment of four men, which was the usual number of a Roman night-watch (Veget. De Re de Milit. iii, 8; Philo, 2 In Flacc. p. 98; Polyb. 6:33, 37). SEE SOLDIER. Peter, therefore, was guarded by four soldiers, two within the prison, probably attached to his person, and two outside the doors; and, as the watch was usually changed every three hours, it was necessary that the "four quaternions" mentioned in the text should be appointed for the purpose. SEE PRISON. Or one set of sentinels may have been posted at the door of the cell (which was probably thought to be so secure as not to require a guard within), and another at the outer or street gate (Walch, De Vinclis Petri, in his Dissert. ad loc.). SEE PETER.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More