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Person

Rufus

Man living at the time of the New Testament

Rufus was the son of Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to carry Jesus' cross on the way to His crucifixion.

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Rufus is mentioned in Mrk.15.21 as the son of Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled by Roman soldiers to carry the cross of Jesus on the way to His crucifixion. Simon was from Cyrene, a city in present-day Libya, and he was visiting Jerusalem, likely for the Passover festival. The fact that Mark specifically names Rufus and his brother Alexander suggests that they were known to the early Christian community and may have become followers of Jesus. In Rom.16.13, Paul sends greetings to a man named Rufus, whom he describes as "chosen in the Lord," and to his mother, who had also been a mother figure to Paul. While it is not certain, some scholars believe that this Rufus could be the same person mentioned in Mark's Gospel, as the sons of Simon of Cyrene. If this is the case, it would indicate that Rufus not only witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus but also became a prominent member of the early church. However, due to the commonness of the name Rufus, this connection remains speculative.

Family

Father
Simon
Sibling
Alexander

Connections

Part of: The Jerusalem Church

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".

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 Rufus appears

1 verse in 1 book · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G4504

Mark1

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.