The “band of Roman soldiers” referred to in (Matthew 27:27) and elsewhere was the tenth part of a legion. It was called a “cohort,” and numbered 400 to 600 men. [See Army]
These words are employed to represent the Hebrew word gedud, which has invariably the sense of an irregular force, gathered with the object of marauding and plunder.
Source:Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)Public domain