Simon (simun). [Gr. Simoµn, probably like Sumeoµn (see Simeon), a transliteration of the Heb. ShimÔoÆn, “hearkening (of prayer).” The name occurs also in inscriptions.]

1.   Simon Peter. See Peter.

2.   Simon the *Cananaean (KJV “Canaanite”), or *Zealot (Mt 10:4; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:15; Acts 1:13), one of Jesus' disciples. The Bible says nothing of him beyond naming him as one of the Twelve. There is a tradition that he labored in North Africa, and that he was martyred in Palestine during the reign of Domitian, a persecutor of the Christians.

3.   Simon, the brother of Jesus (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3). For his relationship to Jesus see Brethren of the Lord.

4.   Simon the leper, a resident of Bethany (Mt 26:6; Mk 14:3). The term “leper” suggests that he had suffered from leprosy but had recovered, doubtless healed by Jesus, for he would otherwise have been an outcast. While Jesus was a guest at Simon's home a woman anointed Him with a precious ointment (Mt 26:6-13; Mk 14:3-9). A similar account of a woman's anointing of Jesus calls the host, Simon, a Pharisee (Lk 7:36, 39, 40). Many commentators regard this as a separate incident, and thus make this Pharisee another Simon. For reasons for identifying the two see SDACom 5:764-767.

5.   Simon the Pharisee. See Simon, 4.

6.   Simon of Cyrene (Mt 27:32; Mk 15:21; Lk 23:26), the man who was forced to bear Jesus' cross. Mark records that he was “coming out of the country” at the time, and that he was the father of Alexander and Rufus.

7.   Judas Iscariot's father (Jn 6:71; 13:2, 26).

8.   Simon the *sorcerer (Acts 8:9-24), usually called Simon Magus (magus), the 2nd element coming from the Gr. magos, “magician.” According to Justin Martyr he was born at Gitto, a village of Samaria (First Apology 26). Simon's first contact with Christianity seems to have been on the occasion of Philip the evangelist's laboring in Samaria (Acts 8:5). Simon, who is described as one who deceived the people of Samaria by performing so-called miracles, which earned for him the title “the great power of God” (v 10), was probably actually of a class of Jews who traded on the superstition and credulity of the heathen. When Simon heard the gospel of Christ preached by Philip he believed and was baptized, although in the light of later events there is doubt that he was converted. The “miracles and signs” Philip performed amazed him (Acts 8:13), so that when he later discovered that the power to do these things came through the receiving of the Holy Spirit, he offered to buy the gift from Peter (vs 18, 19). Peter thereupon severely rebuked him (vs 20-23). Simon asked for prayer that no punishment befall him (v 24). Simon became a central figure in certain literature of the early centuries, being described as a precursor of the Gnostic heretics, and as a teacher whose system was to a large degree founded on angelology, astrology, and an unbounded belief in his own “divine” powers. In the so-called Recognitions of Clement and the Clementine Homilies he is depicted as disputing and performing miracles in opposition to Peter, in both of which he is worsted by the apostle.

9.   Simon the *tanner (Acts 9:43), a resident of Joppa who was the host of Peter for “many days.” While staying at his house, which was “by the sea side” (ch 10:6), Peter had the vision of the sheet let down from heaven (vs 9-16), and was called to visit Cornelius (vs 17-22).

Horn, Siegfried H., Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1979.