Read Mark 15:16-24
The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus by pretending to worship Him. Upon leading Jesus away to be crucified, the Roman soldiers forced Simon from Cyrene to carry the cross for Jesus. Colonies of Jews existed outside of Judea. Simon had made a Passover pilgrimage to Jerusalem all the way from Cyrene in North Africa. His sons, Alexander and Rufus, are mentioned here probably because they became well known later in the early church (Romans 16).
Throwing dice was a way of making a decision by chance. The soldiers gambled to decide who would receive Jesus’ clothing. Roman soldiers had the right to take for themselves the clothing of those crucified. This act fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 22:18.