Simon of Cyrene
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According to the Gospel of Mark (15:21-22), Matthew (27:32) and Luke (23:26) Simon of Cyrene (שמעון "Hearkening; listening", Standard Hebrew Šimʿon, Tiberian Hebrew Šimʿôn) was compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion:
- "And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross." (Matthew 27:32)
- "And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross." (Mark 15:21)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus carries the cross himself.
Because his home town, Cyrene, Libya, was located in northern Africa, a connection arose making Simon of Cyrene the first African saintly Christian. Tradition states his sons Rufus and Alexander became missionaries; the inclusion of their names in Mark suggests that they were of some standing in an early Christian community.
According to some Gnostic traditions, Simon of Cyrene actually died on the cross instead of Jesus in a case of mistaken identity. This is part of a belief held by some Gnostics that Jesus was not of flesh, but only took on the appearance of flesh (see also Basilides and Irenaeus).da:Simon af Kyrene de:Simon von Cyrene es:Simón de Cirene fr:Simon de Cyrène nl:Simon van Cyrene ja:キレネのシモン pt:Simão de Cirene sv:Simon av Cyrene zh:古利奈人西門
