Cyrene

2 definitions found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Cyrene
     a city (now Tripoli) in Upper Libya, North Africa, founded by a
     colony of Greeks (B.C. 630). It contained latterly a large
     number of Jews, who were introduced into the city by Ptolemy,
     the son of Lagus, because he thought they would contribute to
     the security of the place. They increased in number and


     influence; and we are thus prepared for the frequent references
     to them in connection with the early history of Christianity.
     Simon, who bore our Lord's cross, was a native of this place
     (Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21). Jews from Cyrene were in Jerusalem at
     Pentecost (Acts 2:10); and Cyrenian Jews had a synagogue at
     Jerusalem (6:9). Converts belonging to Cyrene contributed to the
     formation of the first Gentile church at Antioch (11:20). Among
     "the prophets and teachers" who "ministered to the Lord at
     Antioch" was Lucius of Cyrene (13:1).
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Cyrene, a wall; coldness; the floor