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Introduction to Cyrene

The Ancient City of Cyrene: A Historical Overview

Geographical Significance

Cyrene stood as the central city of Cyrenaica, located in present-day Libya. This ancient capital sat inland, approximately 10 miles from the Mediterranean coast, perched on a plateau 1,800 feet above sea level. The ruins of this once bustling metropolis now lie near the modern city of Shahhat.

Historical Beginnings and Roman Rule

Greek settlers laid the foundations of Cyrene in the 7th century BCE, and it flourished to become a revered Greek colony. By 96 BCE, the city fell under Roman dominion, and in 67 BCE, it was merged with the island of Crete to form one Roman province.

Cyrene’s Biblical Connections

Simon of Cyrene, who history suggests was a Hellenistic Jew, is famously known for being conscripted to help Jesus carry his cross, as narrated in Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, and Luke 23:26. While Simon was born in Cyrene, it’s plausible that he relocated to Palestine later in life. The existence of a synagogue in Jerusalem specifically for Cyrenian Jews, as implied in Acts 6:9, indicates a significant Jewish population from Cyrene residing in Palestine.

The Cyrenian Jewish Diaspora and Christianity

Alternatively, Simon could have been part of the Jewish diaspora visiting Jerusalem for Passover. In a similar vein, Acts 2:5, 10 mentions “devout men from every nation under heaven,” including those from the region of Libya near Cyrene, who were present in Jerusalem for the Pentecost. It is conceivable that some of these individuals were among the 3,000 converts to Christianity following Peter’s sermon and the descent of the Holy Spirit. These new believers might have been instrumental in taking the Christian message back to Cyrene, thereby contributing to the spread of Christianity beyond Judea.

The Spread of Christianity in Antioch by Cyrenian Believers

Early Christian Outreach in Antioch

Years after Cornelius’s conversion to Christianity, men from Cyrene played a pivotal role in the propagation of “the good news of the Lord Jesus” in Syrian Antioch. This evangelistic effort targeted individuals referred to as Hellenistas, a term typically understood as Greek-speaking Jews and proselytes, according to most Greek texts of Acts 11:20 and the usage in Acts 6:1. The conversion activity in Antioch, however, marked a significant expansion of the mission.

Unique Developments in Antioch

While the message had been shared with Greek-speaking Jews since Pentecost in 33 C.E., the scale and reception of the gospel in Antioch were notably different, prompting the sending of Barnabas to both assess and support this burgeoning Christian community (Acts 11:22-23). This mission in Antioch was distinct from earlier efforts, which had primarily focused on Jewish populations. The involvement of Cyrenian Christians is highlighted as particularly instrumental, contrasting with the earlier approach that targeted “Jews only” (Acts 11:19-20).

Linguistic and Cultural Implications

The demographic targeted by the Cyrenians in Antioch has been the subject of much scholarly debate. While the term Hellenistas traditionally denotes Greek-speaking Jews, several ancient Greek manuscripts use the word Hellenas instead, which plainly means “Greeks.” This linguistic detail suggests that the audience might have included non-Jewish Greeks, leading most modern translations to label these individuals as “Greeks.” This interpretation is supported by translations such as the ASV, UASV, RSV, ESV, NASB, and CSB. Other versions, like the TEV, opt for terms like “heathen” or “Gentiles,” implying that these new believers were not originally adherents of Judaism.

Despite these varying interpretations, some scholars propose that the audience in Antioch might have comprised both Jews and Gentiles who were familiar with Greek, thus broadening the scope of who was being reached with the gospel. This nuanced view acknowledges the diverse cultural and linguistic landscape of early Christian evangelism.

Notable Figures and Continued Evangelism

Lucius of Cyrene is recognized among the leaders in the Antioch church, listed as one of the prophets and teachers who played a crucial role in the community just before Paul embarked on his first missionary journey around 47 C.E. (Acts 11:20; 13:1). This highlights the significant contribution of Cyrenian Christians to the early church’s expansion, particularly in bridging cultural and linguistic divides to spread Christianity beyond its initial Jewish confines.

The Jewish Community at Cyrene, City in North Africa

The Historical and Archaeological Evidence

Scriptural Encounters with Cyrenian Jews

Cyrene, a city mentioned in the New Testament, notably in Acts 6:8–9, plays an important role in the narrative of the early Christian church. “Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedman’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians.” This passage is significant in highlighting the presence and active role of Cyrenian Jews in the religious and communal life of Jerusalem.

Cross-Bearing Simon of Cyrene

The Cyrenian Jewish presence in the Bible is embodied by Simon, who carried Jesus’ cross. This event is captured in the synoptic Gospels: Matthew (27:32), Mark (15:21), and Luke (23:26). While not explicitly identified as Jewish, the implications are strong—his presence in Jerusalem for Passover and his Hebrew name suggest he was part of the wider Jewish diaspora.

Pentecost and the Cyrenian Jews

On the day of Pentecost, Jews from Cyrene were among those who heard the apostles speak in their native languages (Acts 2:10). This underscores the dispersal of Jews across the Mediterranean and their continued connection to Jerusalem and the Jewish faith.

The Jewish Diaspora in Cyrene

Cyrene emerges in ancient literature not only as a significant Mediterranean city but also as a center for a flourishing Jewish community. By the first century B.C.E., Jewish people had established a significant presence in the city, as noted by Josephus in “Jewish Antiquities” (14.114–117): “There were four classes in the state of Cyrene; the first consisted of citizens, the second of farmers, the third of resident aliens … and the fourth of Jews.… And it has come about that Cyrene, which had the same rulers as Egypt, has imitated it in many respects, particularly in notably encouraging and aiding the expansion of the organized groups of Jews.”

Archaeological Evidence from Cyrene

Archaeological excavations of Cyrene and its port, Apollonia, have revealed substantial evidence of the city’s importance, including temples, agoras, and inscriptions that attest to its development and the impact of events like the Jewish revolt in 117 C.E., as described by Dio Cassius in “Roman History” (68.32.1).

The Jewish Revolt and Cyrene

Cyrene’s Jewish community was not immune to the wider conflicts of the era. Josephus, in “Jewish War” (7.437–439), laments the spread of the Jewish war with Rome to Cyrene (66–70 C.E.), indicating that the community’s involvement in these events was significant enough to impact the city’s history and relationship with Rome.

Josephus laments:

The madness of the Sicarii [Jewish zealot assassins] further attacked, like a disease, the cities around Cyrene.… But the men of rank among the Jews in Cyrene reported his … preparations to … the governor of the Libyan Pentapolis. (Jewish War 7.437–439)

Cyrene’s Role in Early Christianity

The community of Cyrene’s Jews contributed to the early Christian church’s growth, as evident from the Acts of the Apostles. Lucius of Cyrene is named among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1), signifying the influence of Cyrenian Jews in early Christian leadership.

In summation, the historical and archaeological record, alongside scriptural accounts, paints a detailed picture of the Jewish community of Cyrene. Their interactions with the early Christian movement and involvement in significant historical events reveal a community that was both integral to the Jewish diaspora and influential in the nascent days of the Christian faith.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is the CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored more than 220 books and is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).