Josephus identifies three main Jewish sectsthe Essenes, the Saduccees, and the Pharisees. In The Chosen, during Season 2 Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is depicted as being the brother of the paralyzed man Jesus heals by the Pool of Bethesda, who is named Jesse in the show. According to an Eastern tradition Simon travelled to Georgia on a missionary trip, died in Abkhazia and was buried in Nicopsia. Some of these Pharisees witnessed the healing of Jesse and saw how Jesus told him to get up and take his mat and walk. Simon the Zealot's Family Some scholars conclude that Simon was Jesus' half-brother ( Mark 6:3 ), but more scholars believe he was more likely a brother of James, another disciple. Like many of the apostles, its hard to conclude exactly which tradition (if any) can be trusted: Like many of the lesser-known apostles, most of Simon the Zealots life and identity remains a mystery, and the few details the Bible gives us has led to centuries of speculation, little of which can be confirmed or denied. The Bible itself never explains Simon's relationship to the Zealot movement. Since the Apostle Simon is only listed among the apostles (and hes completely absent from the Gospel of John), theres not much we can say about him. Just as it's important for every character in an ensemble to contribute in a meaningful way, it's also important for each of them to have unique weaknesses, vulnerabilities, or vices. Univ. The apostle Simon, called Simon the Zealot in Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13; and Simon Kananaios ("Simon" signifying "hearkening; listening", Standard Hebrew imon, Tiberian Hebrew imn ), was one of the most obscure among the apostles of Jesus; little is recorded of him aside from his name. 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. [13] Tradition also claims he died peacefully at Edessa. In the cultural context of the time, the idea of a stairway between heaven and earth would have evoked the image of a Babylonian ziggurat - one of the architectural wonders of the ancient world. Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. Weaknesses prevent characters from appearing over-powered and instead provide a hook that helps connect them to viewers. In The Chosen, the man at the pool is given the name Jesse and is depicted as the brother of Simon the Zealot (see more above). By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. So who was this person the Bible calls Simon the Zealot, and what do we actually know about him? However, Josephus attempted to trace the groups origins back to a small uprising by a man named Judas of Galilee, who stirred up a rebellion due to a Roman census in 6 ADthe very same Roman census which Luke says led Mary and Joseph to Nazareth, where Jesus was born. As a teaser for the future, explain to your students: You might have noticed Shmuel, the Pharisee who opposed Jesus in The Chosen Season 1, was back and joined by a new group of Pharisees. The Gospels tell us almost nothing about him, but they all list him as one of the twelve disciples. St Simon is surnamed the Canaanean or Canaanite, and the Zealot, to distinguish him from St. Peter, and from St. Simeon, the brother of St. James the Less, and his successor in the see of Jerusalem. The name Simon occurs in all of the Synoptic Gospels and the Book of Acts each time there is a list of apostles, without further details: Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. Besides, zealousness is a quality that frequently comes up in Scripture, so it could have easily been a description of a positive quality Simon possessed, rather than a sect he belonged toespecially if that group wasnt known by that name at the time. Remember that, during the time of the New Testament, the land of Israel was occupied by the Roman Empire, which had conquered it several decades earlier. It is uncertain whether he was one of the group of Zealots, the Jewish nationalistic party before ad 70. 16. A party called Zealots were famous in the war of the Jews against the Romans. He was one of the 12 main disciples of Jesus Christ, but he plays no particular role in the gospels and is only mentioned by name in lists of the apostles (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:1-13). One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. (14-16) Simon, (whom he also named Peter).--For the list of the Twelve Apostles see Notes on Matthew 10:2.. And Jesus saw in him the potential to spread the kingdom of heaven throughout the earth, not by force, but with the revolutionary power of love. In The Chosen, during Season 2 Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is depicted as being the brother of the paralyzed man Jesus heals by the Pool of Bethesda, who is named Jesse in the show. (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. With a group as large as the twelve + disciples, however, the gifts and personality of each character needs to be more specialized. 'brothers'). Few pseudepigraphical writings were . 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). Is Simon a disciple of Jesus? In this story, Jesus sees the invalid lying by the pool of Bethesda and asks him, "Do you want to be healed?" After Jesus' death, Simon and Jude Thaddeus became an evangelizing team, and they were both martyred in Beirut in 65 . Eastern tradition claims he died of old age in Edessa. The only special points in St. Luke's list are (1) that he gives Simon Zelotes, obviously as a translation, for Simon the Cananite, or Cananaean, of the other two lists, and gives James's Judas, leaving it uncertain whether he means that the latter was son or brother of the former. Jesus really did know a Zealot named Simon. And this nickname "Zealot" was given to him to distinguish him from Simon Peter. I'm sure that's why The Chosen decided to make Simon a former Zealot who has repented and turned to Jesus. 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. Who was he? 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. Before watching The Chosen, had you ever given much thought to Simon the Zealot or Nathanael? In The Chosen, during Season 2 Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is depicted as being the brother of the paralyzed man Jesus heals by the Pool of Bethesda, who is named Jesse in the show. Simon the Zealot is saying a blessing which is a common blessing said in the morning. After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon the Zealot is one of the most obscure apostles. Simon's other siblings . How do you think the show will influence the way you read biblical stories about them going forward? Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? How could you relate to Simon the Zealot and/or Nathanael, as they were depicted in The Chosen? However, his title "the Zealot" suggests that he may have been a member of a band of violent Jewish revolutionaries. Zeal is behavior motivated by the jealous desire to protect ones self, group, space, or time against violations. "[14], In later tradition, Simon is often associated with Jude the Apostle as an evangelizing team; in Western Christianity, they share their feast day on 28 October. Simon is remembered (with Jude) in the Church of England with a Festival on 28 October. Simon the Zealot was one of Jesus' disciples. 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. What do you think he meant by it? 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. Professor David Rhoades elaborates in The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary: Judas and his followers opposed Jews who cooperated with the census, for they considered cooperation with Caesar to be an idolatrous transgression of the First Commandment to have no other lords before me. Judas small and unsuccessful revolt was carried out in the belief that if the Jews were faithful to the covenant, God would honor their cause by bringing victory in the struggle against Rome. Carrying a mat around was forbidden on the Sabbath, so we can expect that their conflict with Jesus about this to come up in next episode of The Chosen Season 2. This site uses cookies to analyze traffic and ensure you get the best experience. To distinguish him from Simon Peter he is called Kananaios or Kananites, depending on the manuscript (Matthew 10:4 Mark 3:18), and in the list of apostles in Luke 6:15, repeated in Acts 1:13, Zelotes, the "Zealot". To watch this season with your group, you'll need to pick up The Chosen app (, So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed. But he answered them, The man who healed me, that man said to me, Take up your bed, and walk. They asked him, Who is the man who said to you, Take up your bed and walk? Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. In the description of the Pool of Bethesda in the King James Version, we are told: Readers of most modern translations will notice that this verse is not included in the main text of their translation (but it is typically found in the footnotes). The Chosen recognizes this. What kinds of things do people today put their hope in? Of course, within the frame of the narrative itself, Jesus appears to be demonstrating his super-human knowledge - a common theme in the Gospel of John. The most widespread tradition is that after evangelizing in Egypt, Simon joined Jude in Persia and Armenia or Beirut, Lebanon, where both were martyred in 65 AD. We are exposed to the indignities and oppression he witnessed as a young man and sympathize with his desire to make things right. Simon is mentioned occasionally in early church writings, but centuries after the gospels were written, Saint Jerome and others mistranslated Simons title, believing that Matthew and Mark referred to him as Simon the Cananite or Simon the Cananaean. He was one of the 12 main disciples of Jesus Christ, but he plays no particular role in the gospels and is only mentioned by name in lists of the apostles ( Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:1-13 ). 334.] The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. Contents 1 Life 2 Identifications To begin your discussion, ask your youth group: What stuck out to you about this episode? Heres how Josephus explains it in The Antiquities of the Jews: Yet was there one Judas, a Gaulonite; of a city whose name was Gamala; who, taking with him Saddouk, a Pharisee, became zealous to draw them to a revolt: who both said that this taxation was no better than an introduction to slavery: and exhorted the nation to assert their liberty.. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. What emotions do you imagine you'd feel? In Episode 2 of The Chosen Season 2, Jesus encountered a man who had his career crumble all around him. Heres how Josephus described the Fourth Philosophy which became known as the Zealots: 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. A note is Jesse's last reminder of his brother. Although there are various versions of his death, it is likely he served with zeal as a missionary in Persia and eventually died a martyr's death. 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. I'm sure that's why The Chosen decided to make Simon a. Its unclear when the group formally became known as the Zealots. At first glance, this may seem like a rather minor structural detail. [10], Simon, like the other Apostles, is regarded as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Catholic Churches, the churches of the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church. Birth of Jesus / call to ministry Then, the Lord takes Simon aside to discuss Simon's future with the group. In Romans 16:13, he wrote: "Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too." This would be very in-keeping with the Gospel of John, which is quite interested in the way people initially respond to Jesus with faith when he does a miracle but eventually fall away when he doesn't something inexplicable or the water gets too hot. 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. Simon the Zealot. As "Simon" was a common name in Jesus' context, it is not surprising that the Twelve included more than one. Simon was born in Galilee, which was part of Roman-occupied Israel at the time. How does it affect your view of Simon the Zealot, to know that he went off to become a Zealot and fight for the freedom of the Jews while leaving his brother helplessly lying by the Pool of Bethesda? Update: Learn more about how The Chosen adapts Simon the Zealot. By making Nathanael an architect, The Chosen has assigned his character a unique (albeit rarely needed) skill (building/design). Simon was born in Judea, and he was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Western tradition is that he preached in Egypt and then went to Persia with St. Jude, where both suffered martyrdom. We know almost nothing about Simon the Zealot. It could mean he belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Zealots. And they took offense at him. Most scholars today believe kananaios comes from the Aramaic word qanan, meaning zealous one, which effectively makes Simons moniker the same in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. 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