Matthew 27:32
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Original Language Analysis
ὀνόματι
by name
G3686
ὀνόματι
by name
Strong's:
G3686
Word #:
6 of 14
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
ἠγγάρευσαν
they compelled
G29
ἠγγάρευσαν
they compelled
Strong's:
G29
Word #:
9 of 14
properly, to be a courier, i.e., (by implication) to press into public service
ἄρῃ
bear
G142
ἄρῃ
bear
Strong's:
G142
Word #:
11 of 14
to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e., weigh
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 14
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Mark 15:21And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.Matthew 16:24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.Luke 23:26And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.Acts 2:10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,Acts 6:9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.Acts 13:1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.Acts 11:20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.John 19:17And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:1 Kings 21:13And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.Leviticus 4:12Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.
Historical Context
Cyrene had a large Jewish population (Acts 2:10, 6:9). Simon was likely in Jerusalem for Passover. Roman soldiers had legal authority (angaria) to compel civilians to carry military equipment for one mile—Jesus taught submission to this (Matthew 5:41).
Questions for Reflection
- How did Simon's forced service become his salvation—from compulsion to conversion?
- What does Jesus's physical inability to carry his cross reveal about the human cost of atonement?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
A man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross (ἠγγάρευσαν, ēngareusan)—the technical term for Roman impressment, forcing civilians to perform labor (cf. Matthew 5:41). Jesus, weakened by scourging and blood loss, cannot carry the crossbeam the full distance.
Simon from Cyrene (North Africa, modern Libya) becomes the literal fulfillment of take up his cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24). Mark identifies him as father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21), suggesting his family became known Christians. The cross-bearer becomes a disciple.