Son of Simon who carried the cross
Alexander
Named in 1 verse of Mark, first in Mark 15:21.
ἈλέξανδροςAlexander
The name means “one who assists men.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Alexander Written by AI
Alexander is mentioned briefly in the Gospel of Mark as the son of Simon of Cyrene, along with his brother Rufus. (Mark 15:21) Simon of Cyrene, their father, was a passerby who was coming from the country when he encountered the procession leading Jesus to the crucifixion site. The Roman soldiers compelled Simon to carry Jesus' cross, likely because Jesus was exhausted from the physical abuse he had endured. (Mark 15:21) The mention of Alexander and Rufus suggests that they were known to the early Christian community for which Mark wrote his Gospel. The fact that they are named indicates that they may have become followers of Jesus or were at least familiar to the readers of the Gospel. Cyrene was a city in present-day Libya, and the presence of Simon and his sons in Jerusalem during the Passover festival suggests that they were Jewish pilgrims who had come to celebrate the feast. Apart from this brief mention, no further information is provided about Alexander's life, his reaction to his father's involvement in Jesus' crucifixion, or his subsequent role in the early Christian community. The inclusion of Alexander and Rufus in the Gospel narrative serves to provide a historical detail and to connect the story of Jesus' crucifixion to individuals who were known to the early church.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Alexander, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Man-defender. (1.) A relative of Annas the high priest, present when Peter and John were examined before the Sanhedrim (Acts 4:6).
(2.) A man whose father, Simon the Cyrenian, bore the cross of Christ (Mark 15:21).
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(3.) A Jew of Ephesus who took a prominent part in the uproar raised there by the preaching of Paul (Acts 19:33). The Jews put him forward to plead their cause before the mob. It was probably intended that he should show that he and the other Jews had no sympathy with Paul any more than the Ephesians had. It is possible that this man was the same as the following.
(4.) A coppersmith who, with Hymenaeus and others, promulgated certain heresies regarding the resurrection (1 Tim. 1:19; 2 Tim. 4:14), and made shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience. Paul excommunicated him (1 Tim. 1:20; comp. 1 Cor. 5:5).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- 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.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.