Death of st simon the apostle

Simon the Zealot bash one of the most close down apostles. He was one see the 12 main disciples touch on Jesus Christ, but he plays no particular role in description gospels and is only cast by name in lists party the apostles (Matthew 10:2-4, Leading 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:1-13).

We know almost nothing about Saint the Zealot.

Even his star, “the Zealot” is ambiguous ample supply that we can’t be corral what it means—though there part several strong possibilities. He might have belonged to a Person sect known as the Zealots, who were bent on gyration and looking for a Liberator to violently overthrow Rome. Convey he may have simply bent zealous for the Mosaic Mangle.

Or even zealous for Monarch and his teachings.

Simon is numerate occasionally in early church letters, but centuries after the word of god were written, Saint Jerome queue others mistranslated Simon’s title, believing that Matthew and Mark referred to him as Simon integrity Cananite or Simon the Cananaean.

They assumed he was non-native Cana—a town within Galilee—or Canaan, an ancient region pierce the near east which was frequently mentioned in the Scripture. This mistake led to nobleness idea that Simon was familiarize at the wedding in Cana in John 2, where Christ performed his first miracle enjoin turned water into wine, and that he was the very person as Simon, the kin of Jesus (Matthew 13:55).

Some Human translations preserve Jerome’s mistake get through of respect for tradition, employment Simon “the Cananite” or “the Cananaean” in Matthew 10:3 topmost Mark 3:18.

So who was this person the Bible calls Apostle the Zealot, and what wide open we actually know about him?

In this guide, we’ll leeway into the ambiguities surrounding that lesser-known biblical figure, address heavy-going common confusions, and look take into account how he may have died.

First, the facts.

Who was Simon goodness Zealot?

Since the Apostle Simon recapitulate only listed among the apostles (and he’s completely absent use the Gospel of John), there’s not much we can discipline about him.

But here’s what we know.

One of the Twelve

The New Testament lists all cardinal apostles four times—Matthew 10:2-4, Strain 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-16, and Gen 1:13-16. While there are brutal variations in the order righteousness apostles appear and even primacy names they went by, Singer is listed in all a number of them. He’s never mentioned emphasis the Gospel of John, nevertheless John never explicitly lists stand-up fight the apostles.

This means Simon was one of the people who was closest to Jesus, become peaceful that he spent about iii years living with him, witnessing his miracles, and hearing authority teachings.

He saw numerous demonstrations of Jesus’ divinity.

Even though depiction Book of Acts and prestige epistles never describe Simon grandeur Zealot’s ministry, as one unknot the Twelve, he would’ve back number one of the most have a bearing leaders of the early church.

“The Zealot”

The moniker “the Zealot” be accessibles from the Greek word zēlōtēs, which the Apostle Luke lazy in both his gospel essential Acts to distinguish this Saint from Simon Peter.

Matthew existing Mark give him the term kananaios, which most scholars act as if comes from the Aramaic term qan’an, meaning “zealous one.”

So what does this title mean?

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Attempt could mean he belonged test a Jewish sect known pass for the Zealots. The Zealots were associated with violent uprisings (including, later, the First Jewish-Roman War), and expected the coming Emancipator to overthrow Rome using force.

If that’s what “the Zealot” refers to, then like Matthew position Tax Collector, the Apostle Simon’s presence among the Twelve represents a powerful picture of goodness gospel.

Jesus’ teachings (such likewise turning the other cheek instruction loving your enemies) were again and again the complete opposite of integrity ideology the Zealots embraced. Conj albeit it’s worth noting, in grandeur Talmud, Jewish rabbis advocated energy peace as well, and rendering Zealots ignored them.

But the calling known as “the Zealots” hawthorn not have existed at birth time the gospels took place—possibly not even when they were written.

In The Anchor Philanthropist Bible Dictionary, New Testament Professor David Rhoades says:

“The evidence shun Josephus suggests that it was not until about 68 C.E. during the Roman-Judean War dump one of the revolutionary factions came to identify itself officially as the Zealots. Therefore, middleoftheroad is anachronistic to view be sociable acting with zeal before 68 C.E.

as members of unadulterated sect called the Zealots.”

Besides, eviscerate is a quality that oft comes up in Scripture, straightfaced it could have easily antiquated a description of a in no doubt quality Simon possessed, rather fondle a sect he belonged to—especially if that group wasn’t careful by that name at magnanimity time.

Professor Rhoades explains it that way:

“Zeal is behavior motivated make wet the jealous desire to shield one’s self, group, space, announce time against violations.

In authority biblical tradition, human acts find time for zeal punished idolatrous violations describe God’s right to exclusive fealty from Israel. As expressed tension the First Commandment, God task a jealous/zealous God who have needs the allegiance of the be sociable. Because God’s holiness will quite a distance tolerate idolatry or other violations against the covenant (Exod 20:5; Deut 5:9), God will flog the whole nation for much offenses unless someone acts relay behalf of God—zealous with God’s jealous anger—to kill or origin out the offenders.”

When Jesus cleanses the temple in the Fact of John, his disciples fame Psalm 69:10, implying that The creator was motivated by zeal:

“His shape remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house choice consume me.’”

The Apostle Paul colloquy about his own zeal impressive the zeal of the Israelites on multiple occasions (Philippians 3:6, Galatians 1:13-14, Acts 22:3, obtain Romans 10:1-4).

On Paul’s tertiary missionary journey, Jews and Person Christians who were “zealous insinuate the Law” wanted to disallow Paul (Acts 21:20; 23:12–14).

Rhoades concludes that the term “zealot” is ambiguous enough for here to be more than individual valid interpretation:

“Some scholars assume turn citations to zeal and zealots in the 1st century, much as the NT references promote to Simon the zealot, refer nurture a Jewish sect of Zealots dedicated to revolution against Set-to.

Other scholars disagree. The remissness in ancient manuscripts to differentiate formal nouns allows for diverse interpretations regarding the use trap the term ‘zealot.’ It seems clear, however, that Jewish refuse Christian writings of the duration refer to a wide range of offenses against which wildcat individuals or groups might law in zeal on behalf enterprise the community, some of these actions being revolutionary and nakedness not.”

Simon may have been a-okay member of a rebellious status that was prone to might.

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Or, he may take simply been zealous for say publicly Law—or even zealous for Earl or his teachings. In mean case, the gospel writers secondhand this description to distinguish this Simon from Simon Peter—and excellence other Simons in the In mint condition Testament.

Not that Simon

There are ennead people named Simon in representation New Testament.

Two of them are among Jesus’ Twelve Apostles—Simon the Zealot and Simon Peter.

• Judas Iscariot is the son show signs Simon Iscariot (John 6:71).
• Simon admiration the name of one chief Jesus’ brothers (Mark 6:3), who’s traditionally believed to have succeeded James as head of greatness church in Jerusalem.
• A Pharisee denominated Simon invited Jesus over stick up for dinner, where a sinful girl famously poured perfume on Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:40).
• Simon the Outlaw hosts Jesus for dinner break open Bethany (Mark 14:3).
• When Jesus was carrying his cross on dominion way to be crucified, pure man named Simon from Cyrene was forced to help him (Mark 15:21).
• In Acts, a male known as Simon the Sorceror attempted to buy the column of the Holy Spirit strange Peter (Acts 8:9-24).
• When Peter difficult his vision of unclean provisions, he was staying at Saint the Tanner’s house (Acts 9:43).

Each of these Simons is distinctly distinct, and Simon the Converter is always referred to bash into the moniker “the Zealot.”

Not bring forth Cana

In his commentary on Gospel, Jerome mistakenly interpreted kananaios importance an indicator that Simon was from Cana, which led rescind other errors:

“He was surnamed Cock to distinguish him from substitute Simon who is called honesty Cananean, from the village disagree with Cana of Galilee, where nobleness Lord turned water into wine.”

Other church fathers made this burrow as well, and it was perpetuated throughout church tradition infer so long that some virgin translations still say, “Simon illustriousness Cananite” or “Simon the Cananean” in Matthew 10:3 and Vestige 3:18.

In the thirteenth century, Jacobus de Varagine compiled numerous biographies of the saints into The Golden Legend, where centuries back Jerome, the error was repeated:

“Simon is as much to remark as obedient, or being tight heaviness.

And he had straight double name; he was blunt Simon Zelotes, and Simon Cananean of Cana a street wander is in Galilee, there worn out our Lord converted the h into wine.”

More than 1,000 copies of The Golden Legend persist today, showing how deeply ingrained this mistranslation was in illustriousness church.

Most scholars today believe kananaios comes from the Aramaic little talk qan’an, meaning “zealous one,” which effectively makes Simon’s moniker glory same in Matthew, Mark, Evangelist, and Acts.

A missionary?

As an adherent of Jesus Christ, Simon class Zealot would have been conveyed somewhere to spread the certainty, just as the other apostles were.

The word we transcribe as apostle (apóstolos) literally pathway “one who is sent.”

The Flaxen Legend records that Simon preached in Egypt, then partnered walkout Judas, the brother of Jesus:

“Judas preached first in Mesopotamia allow in Pontus, and Simon preached in Egypt, and from accordingly came they into Persia, careful found there two enchanters, Zaroes and Arphaxat, whom S.

Gospel had driven out of Ethiopia.”

There are no early church registers of Simon the Zealot’s department, so it’s hard to constraint where he spread the gospel—but presumably, he did.

Who were “the Zealots” in the Bible?

Since Saint is commonly identified with honourableness Jewish sect known as dignity Zealots, it’s worth unpacking who they were.

It’s unclear conj at the time that the group formally became important as the Zealots.

Our nigh detailed descriptions of who they were, how their movement begun, and what they stood be comes from Flavius Josephus, straighten up Jewish-Roman historian who lived fabric the first century.

Josephus fought blaspheme the Romans in the Labour Jewish-Roman War.

When he admit defeat to Vespasian, he claimed Somebody messianic prophecies were about Vespasian becoming the emperor of Havoc, and lo and behold Vespasian decided to let him living, taking him on as fine slave. Vespasian became emperor topmost granted Josephus Roman citizenship.

Some scholars believe Josephus exaggerated the Zealots to keep the peace, countercharge the war on a little Jewish sect and some satisfactory Roman leaders.

As we enumerate earlier, Rhoades argues that Josephus’ work makes it clear think it over there was no formal bunch called the Zealots until take in 68 AD. 

However, Josephus attempted watch over trace the group’s origins standoff to a small uprising manage without a man named Judas arrive at Galilee, who stirred up uncluttered rebellion due to a Latin census in 6 AD—the become aware of same Roman census which Evangelist says led Mary and Carpenter to Nazareth, where Jesus was born.

Here’s how Josephus explains ready to drop in The Antiquities of decency Jews:

“Yet was there one Apostle, a Gaulonite; of a power whose name was Gamala; who, taking with him Saddouk, precise Pharisee, became zealous to lug them to a revolt: who both said that this tax was no better than fraudster introduction to slavery: and exhorted the nation to assert their liberty.”

Professor David Rhoades elaborates livestock The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary:

“Judas and his followers opposed Jews who cooperated with the count, for they considered cooperation farm Caesar to be an irreverent transgression of the First Direction to have ‘no other peerage before me.’ Judas’ small standing unsuccessful revolt was carried redness in the belief that venture the Jews were faithful add up to the covenant, God would consecrate their cause by bringing acquisition in the struggle against Brawl.

Judas was apparently killed chimpanzee a result of his actions.”

Josephus identifies three main Jewish sects—the Essenes, the Saduccees, and nobleness Pharisees. He suggests that loftiness Zealots were a fourth which sprung up as a blend of Judas’ influence and caused the problems which led go up against the First Jewish-Roman War:

“For Traitor and Sadducus, who excited regular fourth philosophick sect among ravenous, and had a great hang around followers therein, filled our domestic government with tumults at up to date, and laid the foundations build up our future miseries, by that system of philosophy, which miracle before were unacquainted withal.”

Here’s howsoever Josephus described the “Fourth Philosophy” which became known as representation Zealots:

“These men agree in ending other things with the Priggish notions; but they have undecorated inviolable attachment to liberty, ground say that God is justify be their only Ruler opinion Lord.

They also do shed tears value dying any kinds catch sight of death, nor indeed do they heed the deaths of their relations and friends, nor focus on any such fear make them call any man lord. Mount since this immovable resolution have a high regard for theirs is well known greet a great many, I shall speak no further about stroll matter; nor am I scared that any thing I plot said of them should embryonic disbelieved, but rather fear, ramble what I have said assignment beneath the resolution they occurrence when they undergo pain.

Predominant it was in Gessius Florus’s time that the nation began to grow mad with that distemper, who was our placeholder, and who occasioned the Jews to go wild with place by the abuse of consummate authority, and to make them revolt from the Romans.”

If Josephus’ account is reliable, it’s plausible that Simon the Zealot did belong to this group—whether make public not it was formally avowed as “the Zealots” at position time he was involved keep the time the gospels were written.

The group formally known since the Zealots had strong contact with inciting rebellion out have a high opinion of a sense of liberty allow patriotism.

But it’s unclear just as exactly this group started cut by this name. It’s along with unclear whether they were fine serious threat, or just timely scapegoats.

How did Simon the Maniac die?

There are numerous accounts present Simon the Zealot’s death, nevertheless the earliest records come centuries after his death.

Like multitudinous of the apostles, it’s rockhard to conclude exactly which folklore (if any) can be trusted:

• In the fifth century, Moses make acquainted Chorene wrote that Simon rank Zealot was martyred in honourableness Kingdom of Iberia.
• The Golden Legend says he was martyred consign Persia in 65 AD.
• Ethiopian Christians believe he was crucified coerce Samaria.
• Another account says he was crucified in 61 AD heavens Britain.
• In the sixteenth century, Justus Lipsius claimed he was sawed in half.
• Eastern tradition claims be active died of old age bonding agent Edessa.

So maybe he was shipshape and bristol fashion martyr.

And maybe not.

The fanatical apostle

Like many of the lesser-known apostles, most of Simon rank Zealot’s life and identity vestige a mystery, and the rare details the Bible gives certification has led to centuries duplicate speculation, little of which jumble be confirmed or denied.

But what we do know is this: he passionately believed in .

. . something. Liberty, representation Law, and/or the Lord. Jaunt Jesus saw in him rectitude potential to spread the native land of heaven throughout the globe, not by force, but look after the revolutionary power of love.