What was the name of the man from Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross?

The man from Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross was Simon of Cyrene.

The Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—say Roman soldiers compelled Simon to carry Jesus’ cross on the way to the crucifixion site. Cyrene was a city in North Africa, in the region of modern eastern Libya. Simon therefore appears in the Passion narrative as a visitor or resident connected with the Jewish diaspora rather than as one of Jesus’ Twelve apostles.

Mark identifies Simon as the father of Alexander and Rufus, details that may indicate that the names were known to the early Christian audience. John’s Gospel does not name Simon and instead says Jesus carried the cross himself, creating a difference in how the episode is presented. The phrase “carried Jesus’ cross” is commonly understood as carrying the crossbeam or part of the crucifixion apparatus, though translations often use the broader word cross. Simon of Cyrene must not be confused with Simon Peter.