According to the Synoptic Gospels, Simon of Cyrene helped carry Jesus’ cross.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke say Roman soldiers compelled Simon to carry the cross as Jesus was being led to the place of crucifixion. Mark identifies him as the father of Alexander and Rufus, while Luke and Matthew provide shorter versions of the episode. John’s Gospel instead presents Jesus as carrying the cross himself.
Cyrene was a city in North Africa, in the region of modern eastern Libya. Simon’s identification by city distinguishes him from Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples. The two Simons are separate people in the Gospel narratives.
The passage has generated different interpretations because the Gospels distribute the detail differently. The shared Synoptic reference, however, names Simon of Cyrene as the person compelled to assist with the cross.