# seized

The Roman soldiers had authority to make people carry their loads. Do not translate this in a way that indicates that Simon was arrested or had done anything wrong.

# one Simon of Cyrene

"a man named Simon, from the city of Cyrene"

# coming from the country

"who was coming into Jerusalem from the countryside"

# laid the cross on him

"put the cross on his shoulders"

# following Jesus

"and he followed behind Jesus"