LATIN (̔Ρωμαικός). This was the official language of the Rom. empire, and was used in such provinces as Judaea in official acts and Rom. courts. Greek was the language of commerce. In Pal. itself Aram. was the language spoken in the rural districts and more remote towns, while in the cities both Aram. and Gr. were used. That is why the inscr. on the cross of Christ was written in three languages (Matt 27:37; Luke 23:38 RSVmg.; John 19:20). The word “Latin” is found in the NT only twice (Luke 23:38 RSVmg.; John 19:20). There are about twenty-five Lat. words in the Gr. NT, and also a good number of Lat. proper names.