Bible Strands
Mark 15:21
Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator places this event during the procession to crucifixion, immediately after Jesus is stripped of the mocking purple robe. The account shifts focus from the condemned man to a bystander intercepted by the execution detail.
The words — ἀγγαρεῦσιν (angareuousin) translates literally to "they compel," denoting the soldiers' coercive authority. παρὸντα (paragonta) means "passing by," establishing Simon's incidental presence before the forced intervention.
The thread — Parallel accounts in Matthew 27:32 and Luke 23:26 record the same interception but omit the names of Simon's sons. Romans 16:13 later identifies Rufus as a known member of the early church, implying the original audience recognized this family.
Why it lands — The text presents a man dragged into the crucifixion narrative against his will, bearing the instrument of another's death. A reader must acknowledge that the event is recorded as historical fact before considering its theological implications.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Matthew 27:32 Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
- Luke 23:26 As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.
- Romans 16:13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.
- Luke 14:27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
- Acts 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,
- Acts 6:9 But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen,
- Acts 11:20 But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
- Acts 13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
- John 15:18 If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.