Cyrene

CYRENE - Capital of Libya (Tripoli) in N. Africa (Ac.2.10), the home of numerous Jews who with the 'Libertines' (freedmen from Rome ?) and Alexandrians had a synagogue of their own at Jerusalem (Ac.6.9). Many of these became Christians, as Simon and his sons (doubtless), Mk.15.21; Lucius, Ac.13.1; and those in Ac.11.20 who preached to the 'Greeks' (v.l.'Hellenists'). [Article: Dictionary of the Bible, J.Hastings, 2nd Ed., T&T.Clark, 1963. - A.J.M.]