53 Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
54 Or “conscripted”; or “pressed into service.”
55 Jesus was beaten severely with a whip before this (the prelude to crucifixion, known to the Romans as verberatio, mentioned in Matt 27:26; Mark 15:15; John 19:1), so he would have been weak from trauma and loss of blood. Apparently he was unable to bear the cross himself, so Simon was conscripted to help (in all probability this was only the crossbeam, called in Latin the patibulum, since the upright beam usually remained in the ground at the place of execution). Cyrene was located in North Africa where Tripoli is today. Nothing more is known about this Simon. Mark 15:21 names him as father of two people apparently known to Mark’s audience.

In other versions

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

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

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

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

And as they were going out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon. They forced this man to carry his cross.

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

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