Cyrene, Libya

Archaeological site of Cyrene, Libya, UNESCO World Heritage Site

The photo was taken in 2010 of the Greek colony founded in 630 BC and which became Roman territory on 96 BC when given to Rome by Ptolemic Egypt.  Before Easter, this city has been on my mind.  People from this city played a part in Christ’s story.

And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. [Matthew 27:31-32 KJV]

After His beating, Jesus was unable to bear the weight of the cross, so the soldiers conscripted a man to carry it for Him.  We hear of Cyrene again in Acts, first at Pentecost:

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. [Acts 2:7-11 KJV]

“Our own tongue,” as far away as “the parts of Libya about Cyrene,” so we know Simon was not the only person from Cyrene in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ death.  Can you imagine the United Nations Assembly hearing a man speak, without the benefit of translators, in his own language? 

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. [Acts 11:19-20 KJV]

Stephen's death left anger and frustration, and sent Saul out on the path of persecution.  That persecution scattered believers who had been in Jerusalem for Passover, and for Pentecost.  Those of Greek heritage spoke of Him in Antioch, where the term Christian was first applied.  Here at Antioch, too, Lucius of Cyrene was one of those who complied with God’s command to send Saul and Barnabas:

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [Acts 13:1-2 KJV]

They walked. Some were wealthy enough to have chariots, but those were few.  They sailed.  As we know from Paul’s writing, those voyages were not always successful.  We, on the other hand, usually select our “Jerusalem” and expect others to go to the “uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)  We, on the other hand, find it difficult to get up Sunday mornings, get ready, drive a short distance and sit through an hour’s service, then never mention our faith during the following week.  I pray that we – I – will do better.