- SIMON the abbreviated form of Simeon. (1.) One of the twelve apostles,
called the Canaanite (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18). This word “Canaanite”
does not mean a native of Canaan, but is derived from the Syriac word
Kanean or Kaneniah, which was the name of a Jewish sect. The Revised
Version has “Cananaean;” marg., “or Zealot” He is also called “Zelotes”
(Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13; R.V., “the Zealot”), because previous to his call to
the apostleship he had been a member of the fanatical sect of the Zealots.
There is no record regarding him.
(2.) The father of Judas Iscariot (John 6:71; 13:2, 26).
(3.) One of the brothers of our Lord (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3).
(4.) A Pharisee in whose house “a woman of the city which was a sinner”
anointed our Lord’s feet with ointment (Luke 7:36-38).
(5.) A leper of Bethany, in whose house Mary anointed our Lord’s head
with ointment “as he sat at meat” (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9).
(6.) A Jew of Cyrene, in North Africa, then a province of Libya. A
hundred thousand Jews from Palestine had been settled in this province by
Ptolemy Soter (B.C. 323-285), where by this time they had greatly
increased in number. They had a synagogue in Jerusalem for such of their
number as went thither to the annual feasts. Simon was seized by the
soldiers as the procession wended its way to the place of crucifixion as he
was passing by, and the heavy cross which Christ from failing strength
could no longer bear was laid on his shoulders. Perhaps they seized him
because he showed sympathy with Jesus. He was the “father of Alexander
and Rufus” (Matthew 27:32). Possibly this Simon may have been one of
the “men of Cyrene” who preached the word to the Greeks (Acts 11:20).
(7.) A sorcerer of great repute for his magical arts among the Samaritans
(Acts 8:9-11). He afterwards became a professed convert to the faith under
the preaching of Philip the deacon and evangelist (12, 13). His profession
was, however, soon found to be hollow. His conduct called forth from
Peter a stern rebuke (8:18-23). From this moment he disappears from the
Church’s history. The term “Simony,” as denoting the purchase for money
of spiritual offices, is derived from him.
(8.) A Christian at Joppa, a tanner by trade, with whom Peter on one
occasion lodged (Acts 9:43).
(9.) Simon Peter (Matthew 4:18). See PETER.