Mark 15:21

Probably only Mark mentioned Simon’s sons because the Christians in Rome knew them or knew of them (cf. Romans 16:13). Evidently Simon became a believer in Jesus. Mark mentioned very few people by name other than the Twelve. Simon was evidently a North African Jew who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover season. Since there was a large population of Jews in Cyrene it is probable that Simon was racially a Semite rather than a Negro. [Note: Hiebert, p. 389; Wessel, p. 778.] Simon had to do literally what all followers of Jesus must do figuratively, namely, bear His cross (cf. Mark 8:34; Luke 23:26).