# As they led him away

"While the soldiers led Jesus away from where Pilate was"

# they seized

The Roman soldiers had the authority to make people carry their loads. Do not translate this in a way that indicates that Simon was arrested for doing 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"

# they laid the cross on him, following Jesus

"they put the cross on his shoulders, for him to follow behind Jesus"