Simon of Cyrene's Son in Romans 16:13

Who was Rufus in Romans 16:13, and why does it matter? The answer may trace back to one of the most unexpected encounters in Scripture. When Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus on the road to Golgotha, no one could have imagined that his family would become pillars of the early Christian church.

Mark 15:21 deliberately names Simon's sons ,Alexander and Rufus, a detail that would only make sense if Mark's Roman audience already knew who they were. Decades later, the Apostle Paul greets a man named Rufus in his letter to Rome, calling him "chosen in the Lord" and honoring his mother as one who had been like a mother to Paul himself. Is this the same Rufus?

Many scholars believe so. This video explores the remarkable thread that connects a forced act of service on the streets of Jerusalem to a beloved family at the heart of the Roman church, and what it means for us today.