CYRENE . Capital of Libya (Tripoli) in N. Africa ( Acts 2:10 ), the home of numerous Jews who with the ‘Libertines’ (freedmen from Rome?) and Alexandrians had a synagogue of their own at Jerusalem ( Acts 6:9 ). Many of these became Christians, as Simon and his sons (doubtless), Mark 15:21; Lucius, Acts 13:1; and those in Acts 11:20 who preached to the ‘Greeks’ ( v.l. ‘Hellenists’). A. J. Maclean.
Cyrene, [Cyre'ne] Cyrenians. [Cyre'nians]Greek city, capital of the classic Cyrenaica, in the north of Africa, and the inhabitants of the same. Some from thence were present on the day of Pentecost, and they had a synagogue in Jerusalem. Simon who bore the cross of the Lord was a Cyrenian. Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26; Acts 2:10; Acts 6:9; Acts 11:20; Acts 13:1.
Cy re’ne - Supremacy of the bridle (?)