The Synoptic Gospels record that Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross on the way to Golgotha (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26). The Gospel of John omits Simon, focusing instead on Jesus carrying the cross alone (Brown, The Death of the Messiah, 1994). Though Simon’s role appears fleeting, his presence connects North Africa, Roman law, Christian discipleship, and global theology. This article explores Simon’s historical context, theological interpretations, and lasting significance.
The Biblical Account of Simon of Cyrene
Gospel References
- Matthew 27:32: Briefly identifies Simon as a man compelled to carry the cross.
- Mark 15:21: Adds detail, naming him “the father of Alexander and Rufus,” anchoring him historically (Marcus, Mark 8–16, 2009).
- Luke 23:26: Stresses that the cross was “laid on him,” highlighting forced participation.
John’s omission underscores his theological emphasis on Christ’s solitary endurance of suffering. Together, the Gospels provide a composite image: Jesus bearing ultimate responsibility, but others drawn into His mission along the way.
Paternity as Historical Anchor
Mark’s reference to Alexander and Rufus suggests these men were known in early Christian communities. A Rufus appears in Romans 16:13, where Paul calls him “chosen in the Lord” (Cranfield, Romans, 1975). This connection implies Simon’s family became influential in the early church, giving historical depth to what might otherwise seem a passing detail.
Who Was Simon of Cyrene?
Cyrene and the Jewish Diaspora
Cyrene, in modern-day Libya, was a wealthy Greco-Roman city with a significant Jewish population. Josephus (Antiquities 14.110) and inscriptions confirm Jews thrived there from the 3rd century BCE onward. Archaeological excavations reveal synagogues and Hebrew inscriptions dating to the 1st century CE, confirming the city’s vibrant Jewish diaspora (Boardman, Cambridge Ancient History, 2008; Applebaum, Jews and Greeks in Ancient Cyrene, 1979).
Simon’s Pilgrimage
Luke notes Simon was “coming in from the country” (Luke 23:26). Scholars suggest he was likely entering Jerusalem as a pilgrim for Passover, one of the largest Jewish festivals of the year, drawing hundreds of thousands of Jews annually from across the empire.
Roman Authority and Forced Labor
The Compulsion (Angareia)
Roman soldiers had the legal right of angareia, allowing them to requisition labor or animals from civilians. The Greek verb angareuousin in Matthew 27:32 reveals this act was state-sanctioned coercion (Hengel, Crucifixion, 1977). Jesus Himself referred to this in Matthew 5:41, urging disciples to “go with him two miles.”
Brutality of Crucifixion
The crossbeam, or patibulum, weighed between 75–125 pounds. Victims were scourged beforehand, often to the point of collapse. Roman scourging was so severe it could kill outright (Cook, Crucifixion in the Mediterranean World, 2014). That Simon was forced to carry the cross confirms Jesus’ near-total physical incapacity.
A Traumatic Interruption
Modern psychology suggests Simon, an innocent bystander, would have experienced extreme trauma when forced into this gruesome scene — akin to post-traumatic stress (Webb, The Psychology of Compassion, 2018). His life was abruptly redirected from pilgrimage to execution procession.
The Symbolism of Carrying the Cross
Jesus had taught: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross” (Luke 9:23). Simon physically enacted this teaching, embodying discipleship even before most followers understood it.
Early Theological Interpretations
- John Chrysostom (Homilies on Matthew 88.2): Simon symbolizes Gentiles, compelled to serve Christ before coming to faith willingly.
- Cyril of Jerusalem (Catechetical Lectures 13.31): His act prefigures all believers who must share Christ’s burden.
- Augustine (Sermon 218): Saw Simon as representing the Church aiding Christ in His mission.
These interpretations highlight the paradox: what began as reluctant obedience became a symbol of grace and discipleship.
Theologians like Dietrich Bonhoeffer (The Cost of Discipleship, 1937) later drew on Simon as an example of “unwilling discipleship,” where God interrupts ordinary life to draw people into His purposes.
North Africa’s Early Role in Christianity
Cyrene in the New Testament
Men of Cyrene later spread the Gospel in Antioch (Acts 11:20), and a Cyrenian named Lucius appears among prophets in Acts 13:1. These references reveal North Africa’s central role in the earliest Christian mission.
African Christian Legacy
By the 2nd and 3rd centuries, North Africa gave rise to thinkers like Tertullian (c. 160–225) and Augustine of Hippo (354–430). Simon connects Africa directly to the Passion narrative, a powerful reminder that Christianity’s roots are global, not confined to Europe.
African Identity in Theology
Modern African and Black theology often identifies Simon as African, sometimes depicted as Black in art and literature. While not historically provable, this interpretation fuels reflections on suffering, liberation, and divine inclusion (Byron, Black Symbols in the New Testament, 2010).
Theological Reflections on Simon’s Role
Simon’s role illustrates providence: though coerced by Rome, he becomes an instrument of God’s plan. This paradox echoes throughout salvation history, where human oppression is overturned by divine purpose.
Cross and Community
Hans Urs von Balthasar emphasized that Simon reveals salvation as communal, not solitary (The Glory of the Lord, 1982). He represents humanity’s participation in Christ’s mission.
Contrast with Peter
Peter denied Jesus three times, distancing himself from suffering. Simon, though unwilling, is physically present and united to Christ in His humiliation. His act becomes testimony where others faltered.
Simon of Cyrene in Christian Tradition
The Stations of the Cross
In Catholic devotion, Simon is remembered in the 5th Station of the Cross. His forced act is immortalized in liturgical practice, ensuring that every Lenten meditation recalls his service.
Artistic Depictions
Medieval art often portrayed Simon as a passive helper. During the Renaissance, artists like Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) and Titian (1488–1576) depicted him with more agency, sometimes even giving him African features as European contact with Africa grew (Jensen, The Cross: History, Art, and Controversy, 2017). These visual shifts form a kind of “fifth Gospel,” shaping Christian imagination.
Apocryphal Legends
Later apocryphal writings, such as the Acts of Pilate, expand Simon’s role, with some traditions claiming he was martyred for his faith (Ehrman & Pleše, The Other Gospels, 2013). Though historically unreliable, these accounts show how deeply Simon captured Christian imagination.
Lessons for Today
Simon of Cyrene’s brief, reluctant act has echoed for nearly two millennia, reminding believers that discipleship often begins in unexpected ways. His story challenges us to see that following Christ is not always a matter of carefully chosen devotion but sometimes of being interrupted by God’s will in the middle of ordinary life. Simon was on his way into Jerusalem, likely planning to celebrate Passover, when Roman soldiers seized him. In that moment, his life was rerouted — and so, too, the lives of his sons, who may have become pillars in the early church (Mark 15:21; Romans 16:13).
For modern readers, this speaks directly to how faith often begins: not in quiet reflection but in the chaos of crisis. Like Simon, many are “pressed into service” through circumstances they never sought — illness, injustice, caregiving, or sudden responsibility. Yet God can transform these unwanted burdens into holy callings. Dietrich Bonhoeffer captured this when he wrote that “when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die” (The Cost of Discipleship, 1937). Simon’s experience embodies that radical summons.
The story also reminds us that faith is communal. Simon did not volunteer, yet his act became essential to the story of salvation remembered by every Christian generation. Carrying another’s cross — literally or figuratively — is at the heart of Christian ethics. In a world marked by suffering and systemic oppression, Simon models what it means to stand beside the marginalized, even when forced, and discover God’s grace in that act of solidarity.
