Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Those who take the former view think Jesus may have chosen Simon, a member of the tax-hating, Roman-hating Zealots, to counterbalance Matthew, a former tax collector, and employee of the Roman empire. [10][11], James Tissot, Saint Simon, Brooklyn Museum. The Shocking Truth About Simon the Zealot's Past Before Meeting Jesus In a book - and especially in a book that's written in a laconic style like the Gospels - it's possible to introduce characters like Simon and Nathanael without giving readers very much detail. zealots. While there are some variations in the order the apostles appear and even the names they went by, Simon is listed in all of them. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, called Peter and his brother Andrew. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, called Peter and his brother Andrew. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. Basil the Great, the 4th-century Cappadocian Father, Simon died peacefully at Edessa. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is reunited with his brother, Jesse, after years of separation. Simon is a kind, gentle man who knows how to extend charity to others without making them feel ashamed. Simeon of Jerusalem - Wikipedia Why or why not? 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. Nevertheless, what John gives us about Nathanael is much more substantial and evocative than what we get concerning Simon. However, his title "the Zealot" suggests that he may have been a member of a band of violent Jewish revolutionaries. Simon was a man of intense loyalties and warm personal devotions, and he did profoundly love Jesus. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. How do you think the show will influence the way you read biblical stories about them going forward? The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. Which disciples seem to be the potential leaders of the group? Fortunately, creating sympathetic and believable backstories for under-developed biblical characters is what The Chosen does best. So The Chosen has made Nathanael an architect in order to make this image of Jesus as a stairway/ziggurat particularly relevant to his character. Today we'll be exploring what the Bible says about Simon and Nathanael and how The Chosen adapts them to the screen. When Peter had his vision of unclean food, he was staying at Simon the Tanners house (Acts 9:43). It's not a stretch to assume that the second sword was owned by Simon the Zealot, but ironically he kept it hidden, and instead Peter was the one who turned to violence. Who was he? Perhaps your quiet time will generate an idea that you can turn into something beautiful! something. Again, I doubt that Simon the Zealot will be as central to The Chosen as Mary Magdalene or Matthew, but by establishing these key traits in his initial appearances, the show ensures that he can play a role and be recognized by audiences, even when he isn't driving the plot of the show. The Chosen follows this theory and portrays Simon as a Zealot who gives up his violent ways in order to follow Jesus. The appearances of Nathanael (in John 1 and John 21) function as a kind of framing device for John's Gospel. What emotions do you imagine you'd feel? . When Simon joins the Zealots, we understand that he is being driven by his longing for justice. How did Simon the Zealot meet Jesus? The Bible does not tell us anything about Simon the Zealot before he met Jesus. How did Jesus meet Simon Peter? . Eastern Orthodox Churches Oriental Orthodoxy Catholic Church (Eastern and Roman) Anglicanism Lutheran Church. One popular theory is that he was martyred. James the Less: The Obscure Apostle of Christ, Meet Thaddeus: The Apostle With Many Names, Philip the Apostle - Follower of Jesus Christ, Meet Matthew the Apostle, Ex-Tax Collector, Judas Iscariot - Betrayer of Jesus Christ. Simon is remembered (with Jude) in the Church of England with a Festival on 28 October. Or, he may have simply been zealous for the Lawor even zealous for Jesus or his teachings. Did he leave the Zealots in order to join the Jesus movement, while continuing to be known for his past association? 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. Zavada, Jack. And, who knows? For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. In the King James Version and New King James Version, he is called Simon the Canaanite or Cananite. He discovers that Jesse has been healed by Jesus. 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? Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. The first is the more substantial: Commentators throughout history have puzzled over the significance of Jesus telling Nathanael that he saw him while he was sitting under the fig tree. The 12 Disciples Of Jesus: Who Exactly Were They? (2023) Such details are often quite instructive though if we pause and consider how they function. Most scholars believe he teamed up with Judas (surname Thaddeus) to spread the Gospel throughout Persia and Egypt. Episode 1: What do we do when we are scared? When did Simon Peter first meet Jesus? - Answers Zealots were a politically minded group who hated the Romans. Instead, Jesus shows up and provides Simon with a new vision of justice and of how to make things right - not through violence but through the healing hand of the Messiah. 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. 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. Some Bible translations preserve Jeromes mistake out of respect for tradition, calling Simon the Cananite or the Cananaean in Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18. There are no early church records of Simon the Zealots ministry, so its hard to say where he spread the gospelbut presumably, he did. If you're like me, watching The Chosen is about more than entertainment. "And when they had entered, they . Come and See is a devotional journal designed specifically for studying Bible movies and shows like The Chosen. Matthew and Mark give him the title kananaios, which most scholars believe comes from the Aramaic word qanan, meaning zealous one.. Your contributions mean so much. 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?" [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. This is why, in order to understand how The Chosen adapts the characters of Simon and Nathanael, its important for us to not just focus on the handful of facts that the Bible tells us about them. How did Jesus meet Simon Peter? 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. Jesus was the ultimate judge of character and saw an intensity in Simon the Zealot that would work well in spreading the gospel. This version is the one found in the Golden Legend. Rhoades concludes that the term zealot is ambiguous enough for there to be more than one valid interpretation: Some scholars assume that citations to zeal and zealots in the 1st century, such as the NT references to Simon the zealot, refer to a Jewish sect of Zealots dedicated to revolution against Rome. To begin your discussion, ask your youth group: What stuck out to you about this episode? Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. You will see greater things than these. And he said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. (John 1:43-51 ESV), Commentators throughout history have puzzled over the significance of Jesus telling Nathanael that he saw him while he was sitting under the fig tree. https://www.learnreligions.com/simon-the-zealot-mystery-apostle-701071 (accessed May 1, 2023). Its also unclear whether they were a serious threat, or just convenient scapegoats. 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. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. (John 21:1-8, ESV), Nathanael sitting under a fig tree in Season 2 of The Chosen, In order for characters to contribute to an ensemble in a meaningful way, it's important for each of them to have unique gifts or abilities. Omissions? I have Bible studies/discussion guides for each episode of The Chosen Seasons 1-3, blogs exploring how The Chosen adapts key biblical figures, and articles exploring the controversial nature of adaptation. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, called Peter and his brother Andrew. We'll also take a closer look at the role of the Zealots, a radical group of Jewish nationalists, and the potential implications of Simon's affiliation with them. Episode 1: What do we do when we are scared? Jesus' kingdom was not about politics but salvation. St. Simon the Zealot - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Simon's background as a Zealot also establishes that he is a serious, disciplined, and *surprise* zealous person. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. It is uncertain whether he was one of the group of Zealots, the Jewish nationalistic party before ad 70. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Apparently the titles may have been an attempt to distinguish him from the apostle St. Simon Peter. (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. He may have suffered crucifixion as the Bishop of Jerusalem. He ends up believing that Jesus is the Messiah. Like Nathanael, Simon the Zealot's skills and personality are tied to his past vocation. Simon was called by Jesus and was completely changed. 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. The Zealots were a political movement in 1st-century Second Temple Judaism which sought to incite the people of Judea Province to rebel against the Roman Empire and expel it from the Holy Land by force of arms, most notably during the First Jewish-Roman War (66-70). Update: Learn more about how The Chosen adapts Simon the Zealot. It could mean he belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Zealots. 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. The show also is also trying to distinguish his personality from the other disciples - his role as an architect suggests precision, intelligence, and creativity, while his encounter with Jesus suggests that he is honest and candid. To confuse things further, Bible scholars argue over whether Simon was a member of the radical Zealot party or whether the term simply referred to his religious zeal. 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. And he had a double name; he was said Simon Zelotes, and Simon Cananean of Cana a street that is in Galilee, there whereas our Lord converted the water into wine.. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. After the first three episodes of Season 2, I prematurely predicted that The Chosen was departing from its Season 1 emphasis on personal encounters with Jesus in order to focus instead on the formation of a community surrounding Jesus. Apostle Simon The Zealot Facts - The Holy Apostles The Zealots were associated with violent uprisings (including, later, the First Jewish-Roman War), and expected the coming Messiah to overthrow Rome using force. By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. Their one and only goal was to overthrow the Roman government and their occupation of Israel. In Season 2, Episode 5, Simon seeks out Jesus and joins the disciples. 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). 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? That said, this is an adaptation and that means it's their telling of these stories, so I won't be too bummed if they've taken reworked this relatively minor story. Eastern tradition says Simon died peacefully at Edessa. "[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. Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle. 28 Bible verses about Zealots - Knowing Jesus We don't see any signs of Jesse responding to his healing in a sketchy way in Episode 4 of The Chosen Season 2. 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. His kingdom is eternal. Who was Simon the Zealot? | GotQuestions.org 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. I hope you enjoy them! He may have belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Zealots, who were bent on revolution and looking for a Messiah to violently overthrow Rome. Although its worth noting, in the Talmud, Jewish rabbis advocated for peace as well, and the Zealots ignored them. Bible References: Simon the Zealot is mentioned in Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, andActs 1:13. The Chosen creatively connects these two characters in order to make a point. But what we do know is this: he passionately believed in . Also known as: Kananaios, Simon the Cananean, Simon the Zealot, the Cananaean. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! The Chosen Season 4 Controversy? By engaging with Scripture creatively, you'll allow your imagination to be unconsciously shaped and formed by the images, metaphors, and patterns of the biblical story. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. I have Bible studies/discussion guides for each episode of The Chosen Seasons 1-3, blogs exploring how The Chosen adapts key biblical figures, and articles exploring the controversial nature of adaptation. Simon the Zealot is one of the most obscure apostles. What has Simon the Zealot put his hope in to bring salvation? As a result, there's a lot of latitude for how they can be depicted in Bible adaptation. The second story including Nathanael takes place in the final chapter of John: The relationship between these two narratives is really interesting and worth further study, but I won't get into that right now. Verse Concepts. Corrections? In the sixteenth century, Justus Lipsius claimed he was sawed in half. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? [13] However, Moses of Chorene writes that he was martyred at Weriosphora in Caucasian Iberia. While watching The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4, I make occasional comments through the chat but I try to not do too much teaching. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. Who was Simon the Zealot in the Bible? - CompellingTruth.org During the public premiere of The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4, Dallas Jenkins said it was the most complex and challenging episode of The Chosen to film, and it sure does show. Simon the Zealot - Wikipedia In some versions of the Bible (such as the Amplified Bible), he is called Simon the Cananaean. The Bible says nothing more about Simon the Zealot after Acts 1:13, though there are several theories about whatever happened to him. Jesus teachings (such as turning the other cheek and loving your enemies) were often the complete opposite of the ideology the Zealots embraced. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Since the story of The Chosen has grown increasingly complex in Season 2, it's a good idea to regularly review some relevant information from previous episodes (especially since there's not a regular "previously on The Chosen" segment). The sketchiness of the invalid is further highlighted by how his healing in John 5 is closely mirrored by the healing of the man born blind in John 9 and the much more faithful response of the blind man. There may have been a pagan association with the Pool of Bethesda and so it's also possible he was trying to cover it up. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges. The Gospels tell us almost nothing about him, but they all list him as one of the twelve disciples. Some have suggested that Jesus is cryptically alluding to the fig leaves of Genesis 3. Saint Simon the Apostle, also called Simon the Zealot, (flourished 1st century addied, Persia or Edessa, Greece? [6] However, neither Brandon[7] nor Hengel[8] support this view. (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. 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. Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool (Exploring The Chosen Western tradition is that he preached in Egypt and then went to Persia with St. Jude, where both suffered martyrdom. The only biblical references to Simon the Zealot are found in listings of the 12 disciples (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, and Acts 1:13). Facts About the Apostle Simon the Zealot | Only One Hope While the conflict among the disciples and their struggle to come together temporarily takes the backseat, this miracle-of-the-week storyline is one of the most intricately constructed episodes of The Chosen so far. Or did he in fact find a way to straddle the two movements? At the time when he was healed, he had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. Jesus Christ transcends political causes, governments, and all earthly turmoil. He lived true to the Great Commission after Jesus' ascension. ~65 or ~107 place of death disputed. But the group known as the Zealots may not have existed at the time the gospels took placepossibly not even when they were written. Simeon is sometimes identified with Simon, brother of Jesus, and has also been identified with the Apostle Simon the Zealot . As expressed in the First Commandment, God is a jealous/zealous God who requires the allegiance of the people. St. Simon the Zealot's (Simon Kananaios) cave in Abkhazia, Georgia, The Apostle Simon the Zealot by Georg Gsell, Simon Zelotes evangelische Kirche Leihgestern. Others have seen a connection to the description of the peaceful abundance of Solomon's reign, when every Israelite sat under his own fig tree (. They were . Its unclear when the group formally became known as the Zealots. Occupation: The Bible does not tell us Simon's occupation, other than a disciple and missionary for Jesus Christ. Only the first person to reach the stirring waters was healed. 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. As foreign conquerors imposed their pagan ways on the Jewish people, the Zealots sometimes turned to violence. Simon the Zealot must have been shaken by the violence of Jesus' crucifixion. Some of these Zealots, known as Sicarii, would carry out terrorist attacks and assassinations of Romans and Jews who cooperated with the Roman Empire. 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. 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.. [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. Isidore of Seville drew together the accumulated anecdotes of Simon in De Vita et Morte. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM. Jesus' kingdom was not about politics but salvation. Eusebius, a Greek historian of Christianity, wrote that Simon the Zealot became the second bishop of Jerusalem. Who were the Zealots? FAQ: When Was Simon The Apostle Born? - stbartsestes.org 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., Matthew 10:3)]. What has Jesse the Invalid put his hope in to bring salvation? Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Simon the Zealot and Nathanael in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters) What do you think he meant by it? People often complain when a biblical adaptation adds to what the Bible says. Jesus then simply tells him to get up and walk and he's healed. He suggests that the Zealots were a fourth which sprung up as a result of Judas influence and caused the problems which led to the First Jewish-Roman War: For Judas and Sadducus, who excited a fourth philosophick sect among us, and had a great many followers therein, filled our civil government with tumults at present, and laid the foundations of our future miseries, by this system of philosophy, which we before were unacquainted withal.. On the other hand, there also isn't strong evidence to the contrary. After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Eastern tradition claims he died of old age in Edessa. Related Truth: We know almost nothing about Simon the Zealot. Men Jesus Called: James the Less, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot Matthew and Mark give him the title kananaios, which most scholars believe comes from the Aramaic word qan'an, meaning "zealous one." So what does this title mean? Were there any scenes that you found interesting or moving? New Living Translation Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). This is because this line is not found in the earliest Greek manuscripts of the passage and most scholars believe that it was not in the original Gospel of John. On Pauls third missionary journey, Jews and Jewish Christians who were zealous for the Law wanted to kill Paul (Acts 21:20; 23:1214). The Bible does not give us his name or mention anyone to whom he was related. He was crucified 10 May 61 AD by the Roman Catus Decianus, at Caistor, modern-day Lincolnshire, Britain. That's why I'm excited to share with you a new resource that I've created to help you study biblical adaptations & reflect on how they apply to everyday life. He saw numerous demonstrations of Jesus divinity. John P. Meier argues that the term "Zealot" is a mistranslation and in the context of the Gospels means "zealous" or "religious" (in this case, for keeping the Law of Moses), as the Zealot movement apparently did not exist until 30 to 40 years after the events of the Gospels. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 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. 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. Regardless of why this line was included, we know nothing else about the angel described - if he even existed. In any case, the gospel writers used this description to distinguish this Simon from Simon Peterand the other Simons in the New Testament. (John 5:4, KJV). And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. Nothing further is known about him from the New Testament. Also Known as: Simon the Cananaean; Simon the Canaanite; Simon Zelotes. 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. 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). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.