how did simon the zealot meet jesus

Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. The appearances of Nathanael (in John 1 and John 21) function as a kind of framing device for John's Gospel. In the fifth century, Moses of Chorene wrote that Simon the Zealot was martyred in the Kingdom of Iberia. He was a Zealot for much of his life, which meant he was extremely legalistic and held a deep-set hatred towards the Romans and any who had dealings with them. Perhaps surprisingly, one of Christ's own disciples, Simon, was a member of the Zealots prior to meeting Jesus. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. Matthew 10:1-4 ), he appears to have already been established as a disciple of Jesus. We know almost nothing about Simon the Zealot. And it was in Gessius Floruss 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.. Matthew 10:4. It is uncertain whether he was one of the group of Zealots, the Jewish nationalistic party before ad 70. Moreover, in addition to being a compelling story, The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 offers several interesting themes that will be worth exploring with your youth group. We can't know for sure, but it's hard to imagine that someone could follow the peaceful way of Jesus and still participate in a violent insurrection. Some have suggested that Jesus is cryptically alluding to the fig leaves of Genesis 3. Zavada, Jack. However, his title "the Zealot" suggests that he may have been a member of a band of violent Jewish revolutionaries. The Chosen introduces Simon the Zealot and Nathanael (as well as Judas) in similar ways, using teaser segments/prologues. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Study now. Simon the Zealot - Wikipedia Did the healing of the invalid man by the Pool of Bethesda play out like you expected? After watching The Chosen, have you ever felt inspired to create your own work of Bible Art or biblical adaptation? Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. According to an Eastern tradition Simon travelled to Georgia on a missionary trip, died in Abkhazia and was buried in Nicopsia. Jesus then simply tells him to get up and walk and he's healed. They were . While there may only be one path that saves us, that path can be entered through a variety doorways. [9] Another tradition holds that this is the Simeon of Jerusalem who became the second bishop of Jerusalem, although he was born in Galilee. "Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle." To some readers, this suggests that he may be identical with the "Judas not Iscariot" mentioned in John 14:22: "Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Our Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" In the thirteenth century, Jacobus de Varagine compiled numerous biographies of the saints into The Golden Legend, where centuries after Jerome, the error was repeated: Simon is as much to say as obedient, or being in heaviness. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. As foreign conquerors imposed their pagan ways on the Jewish people, the Zealots sometimes turned to violence. The moniker the Zealot comes from the Greek word zlts, which the Apostle Luke used in both his gospel and Acts to distinguish this Simon from Simon Peter. Two of them are among Jesus Twelve ApostlesSimon the Zealot and Simon Peter. Simon the Zealot can't simply be another name on a list - we want to have at least a basic understanding of where he came from and what he contributes as a disciple. In the gospels Simon the Zealot is not identified with Simon the brother of Jesus mentioned in Mark 6 :3: Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. What do you think it looks like to stop putting hope in things that disappoint us, like the Pool of Bethesda, and to instead focus our hopes around Jesus? Simon the Zealot's greatest vice is also tied to his longings and his gifts. In the gospels Simon the Zealot is not identified with Simon the brother of Jesus mentioned in Mark 6:3: Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" Episode 1: What do we do when we are scared? Also Known as: Simon the Cananaean; Simon the Canaanite; Simon Zelotes. According to the Golden Legend, which is a collection of hagiographies, compiled by Jacobus de Voragine in the thirteenth century "Simon the Cananaean and Judas Thaddeus were brethren of James the Less and sons of Mary Cleophas, which was married to Alpheus. Matthew and Mark give him the title kananaios, which most scholars believe comes from the Aramaic word qanan, meaning zealous one.. Indeed, for most viewers, the ability to relate to the characters on a show is paramount. The Zealots were a political movement among Jews who sought to overthrow the occupying Roman government. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In the Bible, when Jesus says he saw Nathanael under the fig tree (. In his commentary on Matthew, Jerome mistakenly interpreted kananaios as an indicator that Simon was from Cana, which led to other errors: He was surnamed Peter to distinguish him from another Simon who is called the Cananean, from the village of Cana of Galilee, where the Lord turned water into wine.. 28 Bible verses about Zealots - Knowing Jesus In The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, New Testament Scholar David Rhoades says: The evidence from Josephus suggests that it was not until about 68 C.E. One of Jesus' 12 disciples was known as Simon the Zealot (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). Born. Learn Religions. The first is that we simply haven't gotten to that point in the story. Here are a few questions you might want to review (no need to take too long - just a quick recap): Who are the disciples that are following Jesus so far? Some of these Pharisees witnessed the healing of Jesse and saw how Jesus told him to get up and take his mat and walk. But the group known as the Zealots may not have existed at the time the gospels took placepossibly not even when they were written. Heritage Images / Contributor / Getty Images. When Simon joins the Zealots, we understand that he is being driven by his longing for justice. In order to explain why, in the Gospel of John, the invalid tells Jesus that he has no one to put him in the water, this episode of The Chosen depicted him as having a brother who abandoned him in order to pursue life as a Jewish Zealot. The Bible does not tell us anything about Simon the Zealot before he met Jesus. [18] According to Caesar Baronius and Hippolytus of Rome, Simon's first arrival in Britain was in the year A.D.44, during the Roman conquest. Notice that the man doesn't reply directly to Jesus' question. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. Even his moniker, the Zealot is ambiguous enough that we cant be sure what it meansthough there are several strong possibilities. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? The Gospels tell us almost nothing about him, but they all list him as one of the twelve disciples. Eastern tradition claims he died of old age in Edessa. Matthew 10:1-4), he appears to have already been established as a disciple of Jesus. (The Transfiguration of Jesus & the Second Commandment), Reflecting on The Chosen Season 3 & Anticipating Season 4: What Worked & What to Fix, The Chosen Season 3: What to Expect & How to Watch, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 & Episode 2: Reaction and Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 7 & 8: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2: Questions to Discuss Before the Premiere, Preparing for The Chosen Season 3: 7 Episodes to Watch, I am the Law of Moses (The Chosen Season 3 Controversy), Thomas & Ramah in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Yussif, Jairus, & Shmuel in The Chosen ***Season 3***, Quintus, Gaius, Atticus, and the Romans in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Little James in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Pontius Pilate & his Wife in The Chosen ***Season 3***, Judas in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Matthew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Simon and Andrew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen, Simon the Zealot & Nathanael in The Chosen, Episode 8 Guide: The Feeding of the 5,000. Who was Simon the Zealot? | GotQuestions.org Bible References: Simon the Zealot is mentioned in Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, andActs 1:13. Simon left everything in his previous life to follow Jesus. Why Would Jesus Call a Zealot to Be His Disciple? Despite the lack of mention in the Gospels, the Bible cites his name in Acts 1:13, where the disciples met together the day after Jesus ascended to heaven. That being said, the show hasn't created Nathanael's vocation out of whole clothe. The Bible mentions Nathanael less frequently than Simon the Zealot; he only comes up twice in the Gospel of John [although he may correspond to Bartholomew, who is mentioned in the list of Jesus' disciples (e.g., The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. The Chosen follows this theory and portrays Simon as a Zealot who gives up his violent ways in order to follow Jesus. Their tactic was to mingle in crowds during festivals, slip up behind a victim, then kill him with their Sicari, or short curved knife. Your contributions mean so much. As a former assassin, he is the most physically formidable of the disciples. While The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 closes on a happy note, with Jesse joyfully dancing on his new legs full of gratitude to Jesus, the original account of this story in the Gospel of John ends much more ambivalently: The ending of this story in the Gospel of John seems to suggest that the invalid, after getting healed by Jesus, turns into a snitch, reporting Jesus to the Pharisees. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus over for dinner, where a sinful woman famously poured perfume on Jesus feet (Luke 7:40). In Season 2, Episode 5, Simon seeks out Jesus and joins the disciples. The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. Instead of saying he does or doesn't want to be well, he explains why he thinks he can't get well - he doesn't have anyone to put him in the pool when it is stirred up. Whether you're studying on your own or with your small group or ministry, Come and See is a perfect resource to help you dig deeper into The Chosen. [citation needed] As such, the translation of the word as "the Cananite" or "the Canaanite" is without contemporary extra-canonic parallel. 1st century Cana, Galilee, Judaea, Roman Empire. While the Chosen depicts Simon the Zealot as the brother of Jesse, the invalid Jesus heals by the Pool of Bethesda, this detail does not come from the Gospels. By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. Following Jesus leads to salvation and heaven. Come and See is a devotional journal designed specifically for studying Bible movies and shows like The Chosen. Isidore of Seville drew together the accumulated anecdotes of Simon in De Vita et Morte. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? Wait There Were How Many Herods?! How does it affect your view of Jesse, to know that he had a brother who left him at the pool in order to go fight the Roman Empire? This is what drives him to become so disciplined and formidable - because instead of handing his anger over to God, he's sought to turn himself into a destructive force who can take justice into his own hands. But its unclear when exactly this group started going by this name. Although Nathanael will probably never be a key figure in The Chosen, by giving his character these clear traits, the show makes it possible for him to contribute on occasion in meaningful ways. Zavada, Jack. Simon's background as a Zealot also establishes that he is a serious, disciplined, and *surprise* zealous person. (NIV). The Zealot party had a long history in Israel, formed by men who were passionate about obeying the commandments in the Torah, especially those that banned idolatry. Why do you think Jesus asked him that question? In the sixteenth century, Justus Lipsius claimed he was sawed in half. Simon the Zealot must have been shaken by the violence of Jesus' crucifixion. It is possible that Judas Iscariot, another member of the Twelve and the one who went on to betray Jesus, was a former Zealot as well. Simon the Zealot Character Analysis in The Bronze Bow | LitCharts Josephus fought against the Romans in the First Jewish-Roman War. At once they left their nets and followed him. [22], "St. Simon" redirects here. Based on these references, we only know a few facts: Simon was one of Jesus' original apostles, Simon continued to be one of the apostles after the Ascension. The Zealots were associated with violent uprisings (including, later, the First Jewish-Roman War), and expected the coming Messiah to overthrow Rome using force. The effect was a reign of terror that disrupted the Roman government. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? Did you have any questions about what happened? Read Scripture Like an Artist is a Bible journal that will help you engage with Scripture through your imagination and respond to what you are reading through art and/or creative writing. The word we translate as apostle (apstolos) literally means one who is sent.. Quick Answer: What Did The Apostle Simon Do? When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, Do you want to be healed? The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me. Jesus said to him, Get up, take up your bed, and walk. And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Simon the Zealot may be the same person as Simeon of Jerusalem or Simon the brother of Jesus or both. Although its worth noting, in the Talmud, Jewish rabbis advocated for peace as well, and the Zealots ignored them. "St. Jude Thaddeus and St. Simon the Zealot, Apostles", All appearances of "Simon" in the New Testament, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simon_the_Zealot&oldid=1151638594. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? Related Truth: You are the King of Israel! Jesus answered him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? The second explanation is that the show wanted this story to have a happy ending and so it significantly changed it to end in the desired place. When his assassination attempt is thwarted, however, it seems like Simon's dream of justice will also be thwarted. When did Simon Peter first meet Jesus? The Bible gives us very little information about Simon the Zealot and no information about his family. 16. Do you remember his name? In a smaller ensemble, it's common for character abilities to fall into basic archetypal patterns like. Similar to the callings of some other apostles, the Bible says that Jesus sought out and discovered Philip just before the Messiah was about to depart for Galilee (John 1:43). Basil the Great, the 4th-century Cappadocian Father, Simon died peacefully at Edessa. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. In The Chosen, Nathanael is portrayed as an architect in order to give his character depth and perhaps because the biblical story that features him contains a reference to Jacob's ladder. Simon the Zealot - TruthBook Meet the Apostle John: 'The Disciple Jesus Loved', The Role the Four Evangelists Play in Christianity, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. 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. ~65 or ~107 place of death disputed. If Simon the Zealot had gone through with his attempt to assassinate the Roman leader, his hope would also have been disappointed by the intervention of Atticus, the undercover Roman agent. One thing Apostle Simon the Zealot facts tell us is we can conclude is Simon's zeal turned from overthrowing governments to following Jesus' teachings. As it has been suggested that Jude is identical with the Apostle Thomas (see Jude Thomas), an identification of "Simon Zelotes" with Thomas is also possible. After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit! Nathanael said to him, How do you know me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God! We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. Jesus was not afraid to identify himself with business men, laboring men, optimists, pessimists, philosophers, skeptics, publicans, politicians, and patriots. Some scholars believe Josephus exaggerated the Zealots to keep the peace, blaming the war on a small Jewish sect and some bad Roman leaders. (John 5:1-13 ESV), Although The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 did livestream on YouTube and Facebook, new episodes are now only being left up for 24 hours before being taken down. Occupation: The Bible does not tell us Simon's occupation, other than a disciple and missionary for Jesus Christ. They were also known to target Jews who were sympathetic to Rome. In the place of the pool, what does he discover is a much better hope? Its also unclear whether they were a serious threat, or just convenient scapegoats. If Josephus account is reliable, its possible that Simon the Zealot did belong to this groupwhether or not it was formally known as the Zealots at the time he was involved or the time the gospels were written. Venerated in. How did Jesus meet Simon Peter? If thats what the Zealot refers to, then like Matthew the Tax Collector, the Apostle Simons presence among the Twelve represents a powerful picture of the gospel. The Bible does not tell us anything about Simon the Zealot before he met Jesus. What did Simon the Zealot do before he met Jesus? He discovers that Jesse has been healed by Jesus. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM, Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool (Exploring The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 with Youth), Dallas and Jonathan Season 2 of The Chosen, After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. The term Zealots comes from the Greek word zelotes that means emulator or zealous follower. Click here for my affiliation policy. Certain Old Latin translations of the Gospel of Matthew substitute "Judas the Zealot" for Thaddeus/Lebbaeus in Matthew 10:3. . Who were the Zealots? Some of these Zealots, known as Sicarii, would carry out terrorist attacks and assassinations of Romans and Jews who cooperated with the Roman Empire. Jesus really did know a Zealot named Simon. Today we'll be exploring what the Bible says about Simon and Nathanael and how The Chosen adapts them to the screen. Since Simon is commonly identified with the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, its worth unpacking who they were. To begin your time, have your youth read the main passage that this episode of The Chosen is adapting: During the time of the New Testament, it was common for people to believe that certain places like the Pool of Bethesda had miraculous power to bring healing. He is buried in the same tomb as Jude Thaddeus, in the left transept of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, under the altar of St. Joseph. In some versions of the Bible (such as the Amplified Bible), he is called Simon the Cananaean. One such offshoot of the Zealots was the Sicarii, or daggermen, a group of assassins who tried to cast off Roman rule. In Islam, Muslim exegesis and Quran commentary name the twelve apostles and include Simon amongst the disciples. [citation needed]. [18] Nikephoros I of Constantinople writes:[18][19]. Accomplishments: Church tradition holds that after Christ's death and resurrection, Simon the Zealot spread the gospel in Egypt as a missionary and was martyred in Persia. The New Testament records nothing more of Simon, aside from this multitude of possible but unlikely pseudonyms. To overcome his vice, Nathanael needs to recognize what happens when he trusts too much in himself and his skill and he instead needs to learn how to entrust himself to the greater architect, Jesus, and find hope for meaning and purpose in humbly submitting to the guidance of someone wiser. It also makes it clear that Nathanael continued to be a disciple of Jesus into the resurrection period. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. He ends up believing that Jesus is the Messiah. Some interpreters have seen it as an allusion to 1 Kings 4:25, which describes the reign of King Solomon, to whom "son of God" language is sometimes applied (e.g., Psalm 2). Apparently the titles may have been an attempt to distinguish him from the apostle St. Simon Peter. Eusebius, a Greek historian of Christianity, wrote that Simon the Zealot became the second bishop of Jerusalem. "Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle." Or did he in fact find a way to straddle the two movements? To overcome his vice, Simon needs to recognize that there is a greater justice at work in the world - a Chosen King who has come to make things right not through the sword but through healing - and he needs to reorient his discipline and zeal around Him. Simon was powerless to prevent it. Even though the Book of Acts and the epistles never describe Simon the Zealots ministry, as one of the Twelve, he wouldve been one of the most important leaders of the early church. After Simon encounters Jesus and decides to follow him, he closes his shop, and after Daniel's grandmother dies, he offers the shop and adjoining house to Daniel. Died. In Luke 22:38, the disciples tell Jesus, "See, Lord, here are two swords." Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle - Learn Religions (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. And they took offense at him. Jesus Christ transcends political causes, governments, and all earthly turmoil. He made disciples of men who had been fixed on the things of this world and changed their lives to focus on things that last forever. Simon the Zealot and Nathanael in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters) FAQ: How Did The Apostle Simon Die? - stbartsestes.org In the Bible there is no indication that Simon the Zealot was related to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. There are no early church records of Simon the Zealots ministry, so its hard to say where he spread the gospelbut presumably, he did. When Jesus was carrying his cross on his way to be crucified, a man named Simon from Cyrene was forced to help him (Mark 15:21). Or even zealous for Jesus and his teachings. (John 5:10-16 ESV), The ending of this story in the Gospel of John seems to suggest that the invalid, after getting healed by Jesus, turns into a snitch, reporting Jesus to the Pharisees.