simon Summary and Overview

the abbreviated form of Simeon. (1.) One of the twelve apostles, called the Canaanite (Matt. 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 (Matt. 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" (Matt. 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 Israel 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" (Matt. 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 (Matt. 4:18). See PETER T0002911.

(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 attach of Heliordorus. 2 Macc. 3:4, etc. (B.C. 175.) 4. Simon the brother of Jesus. The only undoubted notice of this Simon occurs in #Mt 13:55; Mr 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 later without its difficulties. 5. Simon the Canaanite, one of the twelve apostles, #Mt 10:4; Mr 3:18| otherwise described as Simon Zelotes, #Lu 6:15; Ac 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, #Ac 2:10| or as one of the numerous settlers at Jerusalem from that place. #Ac 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, #Mt 27:32; Mr 15:21; Lu 23:26| when Jesus himself was unable to carry it any longer. Comp. #Joh 19:17| Mark describes him as the father of Alexander and Rufus, perhaps because this was the Rufus known to the Roman Christians, #Ro 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. #Mt 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. #Ac 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, #Ac 8:5| comp. John 4:5 and with such success that he was pronounced to be "the power of God which is called great." #Ac 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. #Ac 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. #Lu 7:40| 11. Simon the tanner, a Christian convert living at Joppa, at whose house Peter lodged. #Ac 9:43| The house was near the seaside, #Ac 10:6,32| for the convenience of the water. (A.D. 37.) 12. Simon the father of Judas Iscariot. #Joh 6:71; 13:2,26|

SI'MON (a hearing), contracted from SIM'EON, a native of Samaria, and a famous sorcerer, who professed to be a convert to the Christian faith, and was baptized as such by Philip, but was severely rebuked by Peter as a hypocrite because, under the influence of mercenary motives, he desired apostolic gifts. Acts 8:9. Hence the buying and selling of ecclesiastical rights, benefits, or privileges is called simony - a high offence against the purity and integrity of the Christian faith, and one of which the seller and buyer are equally guilty. 1. Simon Peter. Matt 4:18. See Peter. 2. Simon the Canaanite, Matt 10:4, or Simon Zelotes (or the zealous), one of the twelve apostles; was one of the party called Zealots, hence his name. The epithet "Canaanite" is properly "Kananite," the Chaldee for "zeal," and has no reference to locality. 3. The brother of our Lord, Matt 13:55; Mark 6:3; not to be confounded with the preceding, nor with Symeon, who succeeded James as bishop of the church in Jerusalem. 4. A Pharisee. Luke 7:36. 5. A leper. Matt 26:6. 6. The father of Judas Iscariot. John 6:71. 7. The man of Cyrene who was compelled to bear our Saviour's cross when the latter was no longer able. Matt 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26; John 19:17. 8. The tanner at Joppa with whom Peter lodged. Acts 9:43.

(See SIMEON.)