Simon

Simon, in the Bible.

1 One of the Maccabees.

2 or Simon Peter: see Peter, Saint.

3 See Simon, Saint.

4 Kinsman of Jesus.

5 Leper of Bethany in whose house a woman anointed Jesus' feet. He may have been the father of Lazarus.

6 Pharisee in whose house Jesus was entertained.

7 Father of Judas Iscariot.

8 See Simon of Cyrene.

9 Tanner of Joppa with whom Peter stayed.

10 See Simon Magus.

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Peter the Apostle, Saint

 orig. Simon

(died c. AD 64, Rome) Disciple of Jesus, recognized as the leader of the Twelve Apostles. Jesus called him Cephas (Aramaic for “Rock”; rendered in Greek as “Petros”) and said “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). When Jesus was arrested, according to the biblical account, Peter denied him three times, as Jesus had foretold. Accounts of Peter's life and ministry rely on the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the epistles of Peter, and the epistles of St. Paul. Peter worked with Paul in Antioch and later carried on missionary work in Asia Minor. According to tradition, he eventually went to Rome, where he suffered martyrdom by being crucified upside down. Saint Peter's Basilica is said to have been built on the site of his grave in Rome. In Roman Catholicism he is regarded as the first in the unbroken succession of popes. Jesus' promise to give him the “keys of the kingdom” led to the popular perception of Peter as the gatekeeper of heaven. The Roman Catholic church celebrates five feast days in honour of Peter, and in each the name of Paul is associated.

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Simon

1. New Testament

a. a relative of Jesus, who may have been identical with Simon Zelotes (Matthew 13:55)

b. a Christian of Joppa with whom Peter stayed (Acts of the Apostles 9:43)

2. John (Allsebrook), 1st Viscount Simon. 1873--1954, British statesman and lawyer. He was Liberal home secretary (1915--16) and, as a leader of the National Liberals, foreign secretary (1931--35), home secretary (1935--37), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1937--40), Lord Chancellor (1940--45)

3. (Marvin) Neil. born 1927, US dramatist and librettist, whose plays include Barefoot in the Park (1963), California Suite (1976), Biloxi Blues (1985), Lost in Yonkers (1990), and London Suite (1995): many have been made into films

4. Paul. born 1942, US pop singer and songwriter. His albums include: with Art Garfunkel (born 1941), The Sounds of Silence (1966), and Bridge over Troubled Water (1970); and, solo, Graceland (1986), The Rhythm of the Saints (1990), and You're The One (2000)