Matthew 27:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.

NIV: As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.

NASB: As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they compelled to carry His cross.

CSB: As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced him to carry his cross.

NLT: Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.

KJV: And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

NKJV: Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.

In most cases, Roman crucifixion involved a vertical post permanently attached to the ground. This would make executions much easier and more efficient. Condemned prisoners would typically carry the horizontal crossbeam, which could be nailed to their arms and then attached to the post. Even if the beam was relatively small, it would have weighed around 35 pound, or 16 kilograms. Though Jesus was weakened by that point (John 19:1–4), He apparently managed to carry the beam from Pilate's headquarters (Matthew 27:2) to the city gates. He could not carry it any further, though. The fact that He remained upright at all after the flogging and beatings (Matthew 27:27–31) is remarkable.

The soldiers picked a man coming into the city from the country to carry Jesus' cross for Him. Under Roman law, soldiers could force any subjugated person to carry things for them, for up to a mile. This is part of the background to Jesus' teaching on submission and service for others (Matthew 5:41). Cyrene was a city in North Africa. For this reason, many suppose Simon was of African descent. Cyrene had a large Jewish population, and Simon was very likely in Jerusalem for the Passover, along with so many others. Mark adds that Simon was the father to Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21). They may or may not be the Alexander and Rufus mentioned by Paul in Acts 19:33 and Romans 16:13.

Matthew 27:32–44 describes Jesus' march to the cross, aided by a man named Simon of Cyrene. Jesus is offered a numbing, bitter wine, but refuses it, and is nailed to the cross. Soldiers gamble for His clothes. A somewhat sarcastic sign above Him reads "the King of the Jews." Observers, including several Jewish religious leaders, mock Jesus for not being able to save Himself. Even the criminals being executed on either side of Jesus insult Him. Mark 15:20–32, Luke 23:36–43, and John 19:16–27 cover this same process.

When Judas learns Jesus has been condemned, he regrets betraying the Lord. He throws down his ill-gotten money and hangs himself. Jesus is taken to Pilate, who finds nothing to charge Him with. Given the choice, the people shout for the release of a convicted murderer and insist on Jesus' death. Jesus is mocked by a battalion of soldiers and then taken to be crucified. On the cross, He is mocked for not being able to save Himself. After three hours of darkness, Jesus dies. He is buried by a rich follower in a new tomb. This location is tightly guarded to prevent anyone from stealing the body.

Matthew 27 begins with an official meeting of the Jewish ruling council. They affirm Jesus' condemnation from the previous night, described in chapter 26. Judas confesses his betrayal and hangs himself. Pilate tries to release Jesus, but the mob shouts for Jesus to be crucified. Jesus is humiliated by Roman soldiers and marched to be executed. On the cross, He is mocked by Jewish religious leaders and others. He dies and is buried in a never-used tomb. Extensive efforts to secure His body from being stolen only serve to prove the miraculous nature of His resurrection, which is detailed in chapter 28.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.