The Apostle Simon

The Zealot

Luke 6:15 “and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,”

Matthew 10:4 “Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

Mark 3:18–19 “Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

Four Political Parties

Sadducees:

Largely represented the wealthy aristocracy, including many priests, and were closely tied to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Emphasized strict adherence to the written Torah (the first five books of Moses) and rejected the concept of resurrection, an afterlife, and the existence of angels and demons.

Held significant political power, controlling a majority of seats in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.

Maintained a generally conciliatory stance towards the Roman authorities, desiring to maintain their privileged position and stability.

Viewed Jesus as a threat to their religious and political power, particularly after his actions in the Temple.

Pharisees:

Considered themselves "separated ones" emphasizing meticulous observance of both the written Torah and an elaborate oral tradition.

Believed in the resurrection of the dead, an afterlife with rewards and punishments, and the existence of angels and spirits.

More popular among the common people than the Sadducees, exercising significant social and religious influence through synagogues and lay teachings.

Though some were wealthy, they weren't necessarily a political elite like the Sadducees, often acting as a pressure group advocating for their religious vision of Israel.

Clashed with Jesus over interpretations of the Law and his association with sinners, although some Pharisees were open to his teachings and even became his followers.

Essenes:

A smaller, more ascetic sect that generally lived apart from mainstream Jewish society, emphasizing communal living, ritual purity, and a strong belief in divine predestination.

Known for producing the Dead Sea Scrolls, which offer valuable insights into their beliefs and practices.

Not directly mentioned in the New Testament accounts, their relationship with Jesus and early Christianity is a subject of scholarly debate.

Zealots:

A radical faction, driven by strong nationalism and a fervent desire for Jewish independence from Roman rule.

Opposed cooperation with Rome and even attacked fellow Jews who were seen as collaborators

Believed that God would intervene to help them fight against their oppressors, drawing inspiration from figures like Phinehas and the Maccabees.

Played a significant role in the First Jewish-Roman War, which ultimately led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple.

Zealot were by all definition “Terrorists”

They were militant, violent outlaws

They believed only God Himself had the right to rule over the Jews

They believed they were doing God’s work by assassinating anyone in opposition of them

They like many were waiting for a Messiah to overthrow their Roman oppressors

Josephus writes this about them:

Of the fourth sect of Jewish philosophy, Judas the Galilean was the author. These men agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord. They also do not value dying any kinds of death, nor indeed do they heed the deaths of their relations and friends, nor can any such fear make them call any man lord. And since this immovable resolution of theirs is well known to a great many, I shall speak no further about that matter; nor am I afraid that any thing I have said of them should be disbelieved, but rather fear, that what I have said is beneath the resolution they show when they undergo pain. And it was in Gessius Florus’s time that the nation began to grow mad with this distemper, who was our procurator, and who occasioned the Jews to go wild with it by the abuse of his authority, and to make them revolt from the Romans.

Acts 5:37 “After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.”

In AD 6, a zealot named Judas the Galilean rose up against Rome

They were based in the Galilean region

They attacked Romans in Guerilla-style warfare and acts of terrorism

Soon the Romans crushed the rebellion, killed Judas, and crucified his sons

The Zealot party went underground

They became more selective with their targets

They formed a party of secret assassins called sicarii—“dagger-men”

This was because of the deadly curved daggers they carried in their robes

They would burn Roman targets in Judea and then retreat to Galilee to hide

The Roman Siege

in AD 70

Under Titus Vespasian

Largely precipitated by the zealots

During the siege, it is believed that Zealots began killing fellow Jews who wished to negotiate with Rome

They allowed no one to surrender

Titus destroyed the city, massacred thousands, and carried off treasures from the teample

The Zealots hatred for Rome provoke the destruction of their City

In Matthew and Mark, Simon and Judas are listed together

They may have both joined Jesus around the same time

They may have followed Jesus for the same political reasons

They may have even been sent out together in Mark 6

Mark 6:7 “And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”

Simon may have been the first suspect of who would betray Jesus

John 13:21–25 “After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?””

Jesus clearly did not come to overthrow Rome

He was actually speaking of dying and then leaving them

Simon the Zealot had to do ministry alongside Matthew the Roman tax collector

Somewhere along the line Simon embraced Jesus as Lord and took that same passion he once had for Israel and repurposed it for the advance of the Gospel to all nations.

After the Bible

Several early sources reveal that Simon took the gospel north and preached in the British Isles

He then dissappears from Church history

No reliable record exists as to how he died, but all accounts point to the fact it was due to peaching Jesus