A Quick Look at Bible People Called Simon Quiz

Answer: Simon the tanner

After raising Dorcas from the dead, Scripture states Peter stayed "many days" with Simon, a tanner. Not much is known about Simon the tanner as he is mentioned in passing reference. However, Acts 10:6 states his house was "by the sea". Simon is the only person in the Old Testament and New Testament to be described as a tanner.

Dorcas was also known as Tabitha. The account of Peter raising her from the dead is found in Acts 9:36-42.

Ironically, Peter was also known as Simon.

Answer: Simon of Cyrene

Simon of Cyrene helped carry Jesus' cross to Golgotha, according to Scripture. Little is known about Simon as he is mentioned in passing reference, but Mark 15:21 states he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. According to the 'International Standard Bible Encyclopedia', Cyrene was a city of Libya in North Africa. It was separated from ancient Egypt by a portion of the Libyan desert.

Answer: Peter

According to Mark 3:16, Jesus gave Simon the name Peter when he became one of the Twelve Disciples. Notes in the NKJV Study Bible state the name Peter means 'stone'. In Scripture, he is referred to as Simon and Simon Peter as well as Peter. Peter's brother, Andrew, was also one of the disciples. According to John 1:44, the brothers came from Bethsaida, the same town as Philip, another disciple. Bethsaida was a fishing community on the Sea of Galilee.

Answer: Simon the Zealot

Simon the Zealot, also known as Simon the Canaanite, was one of the original Twelve Disciples. Simon was known as Simon the Zealot, as per Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13. In Matthew 10:4 and Mark 3:18, he's known as Simon the Canaanite. He's one of the little-known followers of Jesus.

According to the Website Bibleinfo.com, the Zealots were "fanatical Jewish Nationalists who had heroic disregard for the suffering involved and the struggle for what they regarded as the purity of their faith." The Zealots were filled with hatred for the Romans, the Web site goes on to state.

It's highly interesting to note Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector for the Romans. Philosophically, Matthew was perhaps as far away as one could get from Simon, yet they both shared the common belief that Jesus was the Son of God. And for this belief, tradition has it both were martyred.

Answer: Jonah

Jonah, also known as John, was the father of Simon. According to Scripture, the disciple known as Simon was also known as Simon Peter and as Peter. John 1:42, in the NKJV states "And he [Andrew] brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, 'You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas' (which is translated, A Stone)."

In John 21:15-17, Jesus refers to Simon Peter as "Simon, son of Jonah" three consecutive times.

John 21:15-19 explains things this way:

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.'

"He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?'
He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.'

"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.'

"Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.' This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me'."

Answer: Simon the sorcerer

Simon the sorcerer, who made a profession of faith, is the correct answer. According to Scripture, he offered Peter money to have the power of the Holy Spirit when he saw him healing people of diseases by simply laying his hands on them.

Acts 8:18-24 explains things this way in the NKJV: "And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'

"But Peter said to him, 'Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.'

"Then Simon answered and said, 'Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me'."

Answer: Jesus' brother

According to Matthew 13:55, Jesus had four brothers -- James, Joses, Simon and Judas. Some translations give the name Joseph instead of Joses. To put things in context, here's how Matthew 13:54-56 reads in the NKJV: "When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, 'Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things'?"

It's interesting to note that on top of the four brothers, Jesus had 'sisters' in the plural sense. In other words, there had to be at least two sisters, possibly more. However, there is no way of knowing the exact number of girls in His family.

Meanwhile, it must be stressed others, including the Roman Catholic Church, interpret the passage about Christ's brothers and sisters differently.

Agony, a former religion editor for FunTrivia, for example, points out the word 'adelphos' does not necessarily mean 'brother' as we use the word in English, but rather something closer to 'brethren' or even 'comrade'.

"It can refer to a blood sibling, or to a cousin or nephew, or even more broadly to one who is united in a cause," Agony states.

Answer: Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, is the correct answer. John 13 tells of Jesus sharing the Last Supper with His disciples before the crucifixion and predicting one of the Twelve would betray Him. The disciples all wondered who it would be. The question is answered in John 13:26: "Jesus answered, 'It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.' And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon." The father of Judas is also mentioned in passing reference in John 13:2 and 14:4.

Answer: Bethany

Simon the leper lived in Bethany, according to Matthew 26:6 and Mark 14:3. It was at Simon the leper's house that Jesus was anointed with expensive spikenard, or perfume.

John 12:1-8 states Judas was indignant, saying the costly perfume should have been sold for about three hundred denari and given to the poor. (Three hundred cenari, according to the NKJV Study Bible, would have been equal to one year's wages for a worker.)

John 12:4-8 states: "But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 'Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?' This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, 'Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always'."

Answer: In Joppa, by the sea

In Joppa, by the sea is the correct answer. Not much is known about Simon the tanner as he is mentioned in passing reference. However, it is known Peter stayed with him after he raised Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, from the dead. According to Acts 10:6, Simon's house was by the sea. No other details are given as to the location of his dwelling.

As stated in the information for Question No. 1, Simon is the only person described as a tanner in the Old and New Testaments.