The Meaning of Luke 23:26 Explained

Luke 23:26

KJV: And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

YLT: And as they led him away, having taken hold on Simon, a certain Cyrenian, coming from the field, they put on him the cross, to bear it behind Jesus.

Darby: And as they led him away, they laid hold on a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the field, and put the cross upon him to bear it behind Jesus.

ASV: And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  as  they led  him  away,  they laid hold upon  one  Simon,  a Cyrenian,  coming  out of  the country,  and on  him  they laid  the cross,  that he might bear  [it] after  Jesus. 

What does Luke 23:26 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Luke probably chose to insert this apparently insignificant incident because it provides such a good example of an ideal disciple (cf. Mark 15:21; Romans 16:13). Jesus had taught His disciples to forsake all, take up their cross, and follow Him ( Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27). That is precisely what Simon did. It involved laying aside his personal plans, becoming associated with Jesus publicly in His humiliation, and following in His steps as His servant. However, we wonder where was the other Simon, Simon Peter, who professed such devotion to Jesus?
Cyrene was in North Africa. Normally criminals condemned to crucifixion had to carry the large crosspiece of their own cross to their place of execution. [1] Apparently Jesus" severe beating had made it impossible for Him to carry it the whole way to Calvary.

Context Summary

Luke 23:26-34 - "they Crucified The Lord Of Glory"
Simon's two sons are believed to have become Christians. See Mark 15:21, Romans 16:13. Perhaps this strange interruption in his ordinary experiences led to the whole household becoming Christian. Jesus and he bore the cross together. So later, Symeon of Cambridge, who was much reviled for his evangelical principles, loved to think that he and Christ were suffering together.
Ever more thoughtful for others than for Himself, the Lord seemed to forget His griefs that He might address warnings and entreaties to these poor women, Luke 23:28. He was the young green tree in the forest glade, consumed in the awful heat of divine burnings, while they and theirs were the dry wood, which would soon crackle in the overthrow of their city.
On the cross our Lord became immediately the high priest, pleading for the great world and for His own; and He has never ceased since. See Hebrews 7:25. Sins of ignorance are placed in a different category from those of presumption; See 1 Timothy 1:13, 1 John 5:16. The answer to that prayer, Luke 23:34, was given on the day of Pentecost. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 23

1  Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod
8  Herod mocks him
12  Herod and Pilate become friends
13  Barabbas is desired of the people,
24  and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified
26  He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem;
34  prays for his enemies
39  Two criminals are crucified with him
46  His death
50  His burial

Greek Commentary for Luke 23:26

They laid hold [επιλαβομενοι]
Second aorist middle participle of the common verb επιλαμβανω — epilambanō The soldiers had no scruples about taking hold of any one of themselves (middle voice). Mark 15:21; Matthew 27:32 use the technical word for this process αγγαρευω — aggareuō which see note for discussion and also about Cyrene. [source]
Laid on him [επετηκαν]
Κ — K first aorist of επιτιτημι — epitithēmi bear it Present infinitive, to go on bearing. [source]
Laid hold on [ἐπιλαβόμενοι]
Compare the peculiar word used by Matthew and Mark. See on sa40" translation="">Matthew 5:41.sa40 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 23:26

John 19:17 His cross [τὸν σταυρὸν αὑτοῦ]
The best texts read αὑτῷ or ἑαυτῷ , “bearing the cross for Himself.” John does not mention the impressment of Simon of Cyrene for this service. Compare Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26. [source]
John 19:17 Bearing the cross for himself [βασταζων αυτωι τον σταυρον]
Cf. Luke 14:27 for this very picture in the words of Jesus. The dative case of the reflexive pronoun αυτωι — hautōi “for himself” is in strict accord with Roman custom. “A criminal condemned to be crucified was required to carry his own cross” (Bernard). But apparently Jesus under the strain of the night before and the anguish of heart within him gave out so that Simon of Cyrene was impressed to carry it for Jesus (Mark 15:21.; Matthew 27:32.; Luke 23:26). See Mark 15:22.; Matthew 27:33.; Luke 23:33 for the meaning of “place of a skull” or Calvary and Golgotha in Hebrew (Aramaic). Luke has simply Κρανιον — Kranion (Skull), a skull-looking place. [source]
1 Timothy 6:12 Lay hold [ἐπιλαβοῦ]
oP. Frequent in Luke and Acts. Occasionally in this strong sense, as Luke 20:20; Luke 23:26; Acts 18:17, but not usually. See Mark 8:23; Luke 9:47; Acts 9:27. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 23:26 mean?

And as they led away Him having laid hold on Simon a certain of Cyrene coming from the country they put upon him the cross to carry behind - Jesus
Καὶ ὡς ἀπήγαγον αὐτόν ἐπιλαβόμενοι Σίμωνά τινα Κυρηναῖον ἐρχόμενον ἀπ’ ἀγροῦ ἐπέθηκαν αὐτῷ τὸν σταυρὸν φέρειν ὄπισθεν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ

ἀπήγαγον  they  led  away 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀπάγω  
Sense: to lead away.
ἐπιλαβόμενοι  having  laid  hold  on 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐπιλαμβάνομαι  
Sense: to take in addition, to lay hold of, take possession of, overtake, attain, attain to.
Σίμωνά  Simon 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Σίμων  
Sense: Peter was one of the apostles.
τινα  a  certain 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
Κυρηναῖον  of  Cyrene 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Κυρεῖνος 
Sense: a native of Cyrene.
ἐρχόμενον  coming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
ἀγροῦ  the  country 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἀγρός  
Sense: land.
ἐπέθηκαν  they  put  upon 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐπιτίθημι  
Sense: in the active voice.
σταυρὸν  cross 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: σταυρός  
Sense: an upright stake, esp.
φέρειν  to  carry 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: φέρω  
Sense: to carry.
ὄπισθεν  behind 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὄπισθεν  
Sense: from behind, on the back, behind, after.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.