One of the most common names of the Bible is “Simon”. As such, it is easy to be sometimes confused as to the identity of the referenced Simon, as in the Apostle Simon.
The following is a listing of the primary biblical “Simons” which cause confusion:
- Simon Peter – Primarily known as the Apostle Peter, he was a brother of the Apostle Andrew.
- Simon the Zealot – He is one of the lesser known apostles, referenced only by name as either Simon Zelotes (translated as “the zealot”), or Simon the Canaanite.
- Simon, half brother of Jesus – He is mentioned by name only in Mark 6:3 and at Matthew 13:55.
- Simon a Pharisee – He is mentioned only in Luke 7 when Jesus accepted an invitation to dinner at his home.
- Simon the leper – He is referenced at Matthew 26:6 and Mark 14:3 and is the only leper mentioned by name in the New Testament.
- Simon Iscariot – He is referenced in the Gospel of John as the father of Izcariot, the traitor of Jesus. John 6:71, 13:2, 13:26.
- Simon of Cyrene – He was the man passing through Jerusalem who was forced by Roman guards to help Jesus bear the cross on the way to Golgotha for the crucifixion. The country of Cyrene was in northern Africa, now known as Libya. Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21 and Luke 23:26.
- Simon the sorcerer – This was a wellknown would be sorcerer in Samariå whom the local people believed had powers of divinity, referenced in Acts 8:9-10.
- Simon the tanner – He lived in Joppa near the sea and the Apostle Peter spend several nights in his house. Acts 9:43, 10:6, 17, 32.
