Cyrene

Biblical References

Cyrene does not appear in the canonical Old Testament; it is mentioned only in the New Testament.

• Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26: On the way to the place of crucifixion, Roman soldiers seize Simon of Cyrene and compel him to carry the cross of Jesus. Mark describes him as "a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus." For details, see Simon of Cyrene and Crucifixion.
• Acts 2:10: Among the places of origin of those gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost are "the parts of Libya about Cyrene."
• Acts 6:9: Members of "the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians" dispute with Stephen.
• Acts 11:20: Among the believers scattered after the martyrdom of Stephen, "men of Cyprus and Cyrene" go to Antioch and speak "unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus."
• Acts 13:1: The list of prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch includes "Lucius of Cyrene," along with Barnabas and Saul.

Background

Cyrene (Greek Kyrēnē) is generally said to have been founded by Greek settlers around the seventh century BC. The surrounding region, centered on the city, was known as Cyrenaica. Cyrene later came under the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt and was eventually incorporated into a province of Rome. In the New Testament period it is known to have had a large Jewish community, and Jews from Cyrene traveled to Jerusalem on pilgrimage for the feasts, and some settled there permanently. Jews living outside the land of Judea in this way are referred to as the Diaspora. The apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees (2:23), which is not part of the Protestant canon, also mentions the writings of "Jason of Cyrene." The ruins of the city survive today in northeastern Libya.

Significance in Scripture

In Acts, Cyrene is part of the movement by which the gospel spread through Hellenistic Jews to the Gentiles. People from this region were present at Pentecost, and believers from Cyrene were the first to preach the gospel to Greeks in Antioch. Lucius of Cyrene is named as a leader of the church at Antioch, which sent out Paul and Barnabas as missionaries.

Interpretations and Debates

• Simon's origin: Some interpreters, noting that Cyrene lay in Africa, regard Simon as a Black African. Others, noting that Cyrene was a Greek city and that Simon is a Jewish name, regard him as a Diaspora Jew. The text does not specify his ethnicity or skin color.
• Connection with Rufus: One tradition identifies the Rufus of Mark's Gospel with the Rufus of Romans 16:13 ("Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine"). This, however, is a conjecture that the text does not confirm. Views identifying "Simeon that was called Niger" in Acts 13:1, or Lucius of Cyrene, with other figures likewise remain speculative.
• The substitution claim: The second-century church father Irenaeus reports that the Gnostic teacher Basilides taught that Simon of Cyrene was crucified in place of Jesus. The orthodox church regarded this as a Docetic claim and rejected it. The Gospel accounts record that Simon only carried the cross and that the one executed was Jesus.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, the story of Simon of Cyrene is frequently addressed in sermons during Holy Week. Such sermons commonly add the interpretation that being compelled to carry the cross as he passed by led Simon to faith, an interpretation that rests on the conjecture that his sons were known to the church.