According to the Gospel of Mark (15:21-22), Matthew (27:32), and Luke (23:26) Simon of Cyrene (שמעון "Hearkening; listening", Standard Hebrew Šimʿon, Tiberian Hebrew Šimʿôn) was compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion:

"And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross." (Matthew 27:32)

"And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross." (Mark 15:21)

(In John Jesus carries the cross himself.)

Because his home town, Cyrene, Libya, was located in northern Africa, a connection arose making Simon of Cyrene the first Black saintly Christian. Tradition states his sons Rufus and Alexander became missionaries. The inclusion of their names in Mark certainly suggests that they were of some standing in an early Christian community.