Simon of Cyrene Bible Quiz — Questions and Answers
All 10 questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the King James Version reference. Use this page as a study guide, an answer key, or a quick review sheet.
Q1.From what city was Simon?
- A. Cyrene ✓
- B. Jerusalem
- C. Damascus
- D. Bethlehem
Answer: Cyrene
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. (Matthew 27:32)
Q2.What did the soldiers compel Simon to do?
- A. Bear his cross ✓
- B. Carry a sword
- C. Lead a horse
- D. Open the gate
Answer: Bear his cross
...him they compelled to bear his cross. (Matthew 27:32)
Q3.From where was Simon coming when he was compelled?
- A. Out of the country ✓
- B. Out of the temple
- C. Out of the marketplace
- D. Out of his home
Answer: Out of the country
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)
Q4.Who were Simon's two sons (mentioned by Mark)?
- A. Alexander and Rufus ✓
- B. James and John
- C. Peter and Andrew
- D. Philip and Bartholomew
Answer: Alexander and Rufus
...the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. (Mark 15:21)
Q5.Where did Simon carry the cross?
- A. After Jesus ✓
- B. Before Jesus
- C. Beside Jesus
- D. Away from Jesus
Answer: After Jesus
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. (Luke 23:26)
Q6.What did Jesus say about His own cross-bearing?
- A. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me ✓
- B. I bear it alone
- C. Send another
- D. Wait for me
Answer: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)
Q7.Where is Cyrene located?
- A. In North Africa (modern Libya) ✓
- B. In Galilee
- C. In Italy
- D. In Asia Minor
Answer: In North Africa (modern Libya)
Cyrene was a Greek city in North Africa (modern eastern Libya), home to a sizable Jewish community. Simon was likely a pilgrim attending Passover.
Q8.What feast was being kept when Simon bore the cross?
- A. The Passover ✓
- B. Pentecost
- C. Tabernacles
- D. Trumpets
Answer: The Passover
Now upon the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover... (Mark 14:12) — Simon was likely in Jerusalem to keep Passover.
Q9.What does Mark imply about Simon's family being known to his readers?
- A. Alexander and Rufus must have been known among the early Christians ✓
- B. They were strangers
- C. They were unbelievers
- D. They were dead
Answer: Alexander and Rufus must have been known among the early Christians
Mark names Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21) presuming they were familiar to his Roman readers — possibly the same Rufus Paul greets in Romans 16:13.
Q10.What was Golgotha, where Simon brought the cross?
- A. The place of a skull ✓
- B. A great mountain
- C. A garden
- D. A field
Answer: The place of a skull
And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. (Mark 15:22)