Who was Simon of Cyrene?
Answered from the commentary of Morrish Bible Dictionary, C. E. Stuart, William Kelly and 10 others
Simon of Cyrene was a Cyrenian, a man from the Greek city of Cyrene in North Africa, the capital of Cyrenaica, whose people had a synagogue in Jerusalem. He is described as a Hellenistic Jew. He was coming in from the country or the field when the soldiers led Jesus out, so he had taken no part with the crowd. They compelled him to carry the cross after Jesus (Matthew 27:32; Luke 23:26). The word for "compel" means to requisition someone for a service. So he did not offer himself, though it is never said that he refused. Jesus first bore the cross Himself (John 19:17), and on the way it was transferred to Simon, who carried the lighter end behind Him .
Most of these writers hold that Scripture gives no ground for saying Jesus collapsed under the weight, and they call that idea mere human imagination. A few take the other view: they say physical weakness made it necessary, or that the soldiers feared He would die on the way . Several see the act as the soldiers' needless cruelty, pressing a passer-by into a service they would not do themselves.
Mark 15:21 adds that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. These sons were evidently well-known Christians when Mark wrote. That Rufus is very likely the one greeted in Romans 16:13 as "chosen in the Lord," together with his mother, who had been a mother to Paul also. From this the writers draw that God did not forget this small service but repaid it in grace, so that salvation came to that house. Some go further and say Simon himself became known among the disciples, or was perhaps brought to repentance and faith through that day. Others put it that the day seems to have brought the conversion of three in the household.
His bearing of the cross is taken as a picture of what believers are privileged to do. They do not share in the atoning sufferings; they bear the cross after Christ in the path of rejection by the world for His sake. Some note the contrast with the other Simon, Peter, who promised everything and then denied his Lord. They also note that the name Simon means "hearkener," and they draw from it that hearkening and bearing the cross is the way of fruitfulness.
Verses: Mark 15:21, Matthew 27:32, Luke 23:26, Romans 16:13, Acts 2:10, Acts 11:20, Acts 13:1, Acts 6:9, John 19:17
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
Simon the Cyrenian, father of Alexander and Rufus: he was made to carry the Lord's cross. Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26.
Mark next carries his readers from the judgment-seat to the Praetorium, in the court of which the Lord is made the sport of the soldiers, and fresh indignities and mockeries are silently endured by Him as Isaiah had prophesied: "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth" (Is. 53:7). Then they led Him away to be crucified, compelling on the way one Simon, a Cyrenian, a Hellenistic Jew, to bear the cross behind Him. Was he a disciple? Evidently he had taken no part with the populace, for he was coming from the country, and so must have met the procession on its way to Golgotha. He was also, as Mark informs us, the father of Alexander and Rufus — that Rufus, very likely, who is mentioned by Paul in Rom. 16;13.
Greek city, capital of the classic Cyrenaica, in the north of Africa, and the inhabitants of the same. Some from thence were present on the day of Pentecost, and they had a synagogue in Jerusalem. Simon who bore the cross of the Lord was a Cyrenian. Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26; Acts 2:10; Acts 6:9; Acts 11:20; Acts 13:1.
Oh! the heart piercing scenes of this section of our Gospel! They led Him away to heap the greatest indignities upon the Holy One. That is man's answer to that service of love and power He so unceasingly had rendered. After the cruel scourging they clothed Him with a purple robe in mockery. Matthew reports a scarlet cloak. This is not a discrepancy. "A scarlet military robe was made to represent the imperial purple, hence the designation, a purple robe. And because this is the symbolic import of the robe, there is no discrepancy" (Lange). The scarlet cloak was used to represent in mockery the imperial purple robe. The crown of thorns was made to inflict cruel pain upon His brow. Thorns came on account of man's sin; they are the signs of the curse. He took the curse upon His own head. Mark tells us most definitely who Simon the Cyrenian was, who was compelled to bear His cross, the father of Alexander and Rufus (see Romans 16:13). God did not forget this service; Simon's sons became believers.
(V. 21). The violent soldiers, indifferent to the liberty and rights of others, compel one returning from his labours in the field to bear the cross. Simon the Cyrenian had the honour of bearing the actual cross for the One who suffered on the cross for all the world. God, apparently was not unmindful of this small service for the Lord; for we are told that this Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. This seems suggestive of the Rufus mentioned in Romans 12:13, and would imply that Alexander and Rufus were well known converts when Mark wrote his gospel.
But, further, every indignity upon the way was heaped upon Him. "The soldiers led Him away into the court [called] Praetorium, and they call together the whole band. And they clothed Him with purple, and bind round on Him a crown of thorns which they had plaited. And they began to salute Him, Hall, King of the Jews!" There was no contempt too gross for Him. "They struck His head with a reed, and spat on Him, and, bending the knee, worshipped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple from Him, and put His own garments on Him, and lead Him out to crucify Him." And now, in the spirit of the wickedness of the whole scene, "they compel one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming from the field, the father of Alexander and Rufus (cf. Rom. 16),161 to carry His cross." It would appear that these two sons were afterwards well-known converts brought into the Church; hence the interest of the fact mentioned.161 God's goodness, I suppose, used this very circumstance, wicked as it was on man's part. He would not allow that even His Son's indignity should not turn to the blessing of man. Simon, the father of these two, then, was compelled to bear His cross by those who held the truth, if at all, in unrighteousness.
a.) Vers. 26-31: On the way to Calvary. Simon the Cyrenian we have already seen impressed into the service to bear the cross after Jesus. From the manner of the narrative we would gather that he was either already a believer or became one afterwards. Perhaps his association with the Lord at this tune was used to bring him to repentance and faith. The word to the women is peculiar to Luke. If they were burning the green tree — Christ, what would be done with the dry? — what should the end be of those who had no life?
Mark (Mark 15:21-41). As we have already found, the narrative of Mark closely resembles that of Matthew. A few things only therefore claim our attention. Simon is further identified for us as the father of Alexander and Rufus, evidently well known Christians at the time this Gospel was written. (See also Rom. 16:13," Rufus, … his mother and mine.") This falls in line with what we have already said about Simon.
"Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, that laboured in [the] Lord, Salute Persis the beloved, which (ἥτις) laboured much in [the] Lord. Salute Rufus, the elect in [the] Lord, and his mother and mine." (Ver. 12, 13.) Those christian sisters are here graciously named, but with due meed, those as labouring, this as having laboured much in the Lord: the two former as at present in the work; the latter for her past and great service. Christ opens the heart and mouth in the fullest recognition of work for His name; but He purges our dim eyes also. Nor had He forgotten Simon the passing Cyrenian, who, as he came from the field, was compelled to carry the cross by the mob of soldiers and others as they led Jesus out to His crucifixion. The Lord repaid with interest the burden of that day. Compare Mark 15:21. Rufus is here before us "the elect in [the] Lord," and his mother who had been as such to the apostle. Salvation came to that house.
576 Luke 23:26. — "Cyrene," the modern Tripoli. Cf. Acts 6:9. Observe how Luke's account brings together John's statement and that of Matthew and Mark. The Lord must alone have borne the cross until relieved of some portion of it by Simon.
Verses
- Mark 15:21And they compel to go [with them] a certain passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the field, the father of Alexander and Rufus, that he might carry his cross.
- Matthew 27:32And as they went forth they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to go [with them] that he might bear his cross.
- Luke 23:26And as they led him away, they laid hold on a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the field, and put the cross upon him to bear it behind Jesus.
- Romans 16:13Salute Rufus, chosen in [the] Lord; and his mother and mine.
- Acts 2:10both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya which adjoin Cyrene, and the Romans sojourning [here], both Jews and proselytes,
- Acts 11:20But there were certain of them, Cyprians and Cyrenians, who entering into Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, announcing the glad tidings of the Lord Jesus.
- Acts 13:1Now there were in Antioch, in the assembly which was [there], prophets and teachers Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen, foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
- Acts 6:9And there arose up certain of those of the synagogue called of freedmen, and of Cyrenians, and of Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.