Simon in Smiths Bible Dictionary

(contracted form of Simeon, a hearing). 1. Son of Mattathias. [MACCABEES] 2. Son of Onias the high priest, whose eulogy closes the "praise of famous men" in the book of Ecclesiasticus, ch. 4. (B.C. 302-293.) 3. A "governor of the temple" in the time of Seleucus Philopator, whose information as to the treasures of the temple led to the sacrilegious attach of Heliordorus. 2 Macc. 3:4, etc. (B.C. 175.) 4. Simon the brother of Jesus. The only undoubted notice of this Simon occurs in Mt 13:55; Mr 6:3 He has been identified by some writers with Simon the Canaanite, and still more generally with Symeon who became bishop of Jerusalem after the death of James, A.D. 62. The former of these opinions rests on no evidence whatever, nor is the later without its difficulties. 5. Simon the Canaanite, one of the twelve apostles, Mt 10:4; Mr 3:18 otherwise described as Simon Zelotes, Lu 6:15; Ac 1:13 (A.D. 28.) The latter term, which is peculiar to Luke, is the Greek equivalent for the Chaldee term preserved by Matthew and Mark. [CANAANITE] Each of these equally points out Simon as belonging to the faction of the Zealots, who were conspicuous for their fierce advocacy of the Mosaic ritual. 6. Simon of Cyrene, a Hellenistic Jew, born at Cyrene, on the north coast of Africa, who was present at Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, either as an attendant at the feast, Ac 2:10 or as one of the numerous settlers at Jerusalem from that place. Ac 6:9 (A.D. 30.) Meeting the procession that conducted Jesus to Golgotha, as he was returning from the country, he was pressed into the service to bear the cross, Mt 27:32; Mr 15:21; Lu 23:26 when Jesus himself was unable to carry it any longer. Comp. Joh 19:17 Mark describes him as the father of Alexander and Rufus, perhaps because this was the Rufus known to the Roman Christians, Ro 16:13 for whom he more especially wrote...