Simon was a very common name in New Testament times, and at least eight men bearing that name appear in the Bible. Simon Peter was one of our Lord’s closest companions (Matthew 10:2), Simon the Zealot was another of Jesus’ disciples (Luke 6:15), and Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32) carried Christ’s cross. Thus, Simon the Leper was a label given to distinguish this Simon from many others in the Bible.