Rufus

Rufus (Latin meaning red) is mentioned in two New Testament passages. In Mark 15:21, Simon of Cyrene, compelled to carry Jesus's cross, is identified as "the father of Alexander and Rufus" — suggesting that Rufus was well known to Mark's Roman audience when the Gospel was written. In Romans 16:13, Paul greets "Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine" — indicating both that Rufus was an eminent member of the Roman church and that his mother had shown maternal care to Paul. These two references are commonly connected, suggesting that the Rufus whose father carried Christ's cross later became a significant figure in the church at Rome, with Paul having a personal relationship with his family.