Alexander — person in the Bible

Alexander

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Alexander was the son of Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to carry Jesus' cross.

Alexander is mentioned briefly in the Gospel of Mark as the son of Simon of Cyrene, along with his brother Rufus. (Mrk.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. (Mrk.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.

Connections

Simon of Cyrene and his sons

FamilyHypothesis

Mark alone names Simon's sons Alexander and Rufus, implying his readers knew them. Paul greets a Rufus in Romans 16:13, "chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine".

SimonCarried the cross RufusSon of Simon AlexanderSon of Simon RufusBeliever in Rome, son of Paul's "mother"

Where the text shows it: Mark 15:21 — Simon, father of Alexander and RufusRomans 16:13 — Rufus and his mother

Ways people read this (2)

Same Rufus, now a leader in the Roman church.
Coincidence, as Rufus was a common name.

Sources: Scripture

Where Alexander appears

1 verse in 1 book · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G0223

Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.