Simon
Si’mon (contracted form of Simeon, a hearing).
1. Son of Mattathias. [Maccabees.]
2. Son of Onias the high priest, whose eulogy closes the “praise of famous men” in the book of Ecclesiasticus, ch. 4. (b.c. 302–293.)
3. A “governor of the temple” in the time of Seleucus Philopator, whose information as to the treasures of the temple led to the sacrilegious attack of Heliodorus. 2 Macc. 3:4, etc. (b.c. 175.)
4. Simon the brother of Jesus. The only undoubted notice of this Simon occurs in Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3. He has been identified by some writers with Simon the Canaanite, and still more generally with Symeon who became bishop of Jerusalem after the death of James, a.d. 62. The former of these opinions rests on no evidence whatever, nor is the latter without its difficulties.
5. Simon the Canaanite, one of the twelve apostles, Matt. 10:4; Mark 3:18, otherwise described as Simon Zelotes, Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13. (a.d. 28.) The latter term, which is peculiar to Luke, is the Greek equivalent for the Chaldee term preserved by Matthew and Mark. [Canaanite.] Each of these equally points out Simon as belonging to the faction of the Zealots, who were conspicuous for their fierce advocacy of the Mosaic ritual.
6. Simon of Cyrene, a Hellenistic Jew, born at Cyrene, on the north coast of Africa, who was present at Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, either as an attendant at the feast, Acts 2:10, or as one of the numerous settlers at Jerusalem from that place. Acts 6:9. (a.d. 30.) Meeting the procession that conducted Jesus to Golgotha, as he was returning from the country, he was pressed into the service to bear the cross, Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26, when Jesus himself was unable to carry it any longer. Comp. John 19:17. Mark describes him as the father of Alexander and Rufus, perhaps because this was the Rufus known to the Roman Christians, Rom. 16:13, for whom he more especially wrote.
7. Simon, a resident at Bethany, distinguished as “the leper.” It is not improbable that he had been miraculously cured by Jesus. In his house Mary anointed Jesus preparatory to his death and burial. Matt. 26:6, etc.; Mark 14:3, etc.; John 12:1, etc.
8. Simon Magus, a Samaritan living in the apostolic age, distinguished as a sorcerer or “magician,” from his practice of magical arts. Acts 8:9. According to ecclesiastical writers he was born at Gitton, a village of Samaria, and was probably educated at Alexandria in the tenets of the Gnostic school. He is first introduced to us as practicing magical arts in a city of Samaria, perhaps Sychar, Acts 8:5; comp. John 4:5, and with such success that he was pronounced to be “the power of God which is called great.” Acts 8:10. The preaching and miracles of Philip having excited his observation, he became one of his disciples, and received baptism at his hands, a.d. 36, 37. Subsequently he witnessed the effect produced by the imposition of hands, as practiced by the apostles Peter and John, and, being desirous of acquiring a similar power for himself, he offered a sum of money for it. His object evidently was to apply the power to the prosecution of magical arts. The motive and the means were equally to be reprobated; and his proposition met with a severe denunciation from Peter, followed by a petition on the part of Simon, the tenor of which bespeaks terror, but not penitence. Acts 8:9–24. The memory of his peculiar guilt has been perpetuated in the word simony, as applied to all traffic in spiritual offices. Simon’s history, subsequent to his meeting with Peter, is involved in difficulties. Early Church historians depict him as the pertinacious foe of the apostle Peter, whose movements he followed for the purpose of seeking encounters, in which he was signally defeated. He is said to have followed the apostle to Rome. His death is associated with this meeting. According to Hippolytus, the earliest authority on the subject, Simon was buried alive at his own request, in the confident assurance that he would rise on the third day.
9. Simon Peter. [Peter.]
10. Simon, a Pharisee, in whose house a penitent woman anointed the head and feet of Jesus. Luke 7:40.
11. Simon the tanner, a Christian convert living at Joppa, at whose house Peter lodged. Acts 9:43. The house was near the seaside, Acts 10:6, 32, for the convenience of the water. (a.d. 37.)
12. Simon the father of Judas Iscariot. John 6:71; 13:2, 26.
House of Simon the Tanner.