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Was Simon of Cyrene African?
In the stories I heard growing up, Simon of Cyrene was a black man. While the association may stem from Cyrene’s location in North Africa (modern-day Libya), its power lies in racial experience.
Where did Simon of Cyrene come from?
Was Simon the Tanner a gentile?
He is believed to be an example of the early Christians’ embracing people of all professions. The events at his house are interpreted as leading to the early followers of Jesus opening up their ranks also to the Gentiles, after starting as a Jewish movement.
Is Simon Peter the brother of Jesus?
The New Testament describes James, Joseph (Joses), Judas (Jude), and Simon as brothers of Jesus (Greek: ἀδελφοί, romanized: adelphoi, lit. ‘brothers’).