In the Bible there is no indication that Simon the Zealot was related to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. Or did he in fact find a way to straddle the two movements? during the Roman-Judean War that one of the revolutionary factions came to identify itself formally as the Zealots. 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 (. 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). And this nickname "Zealot" was given to him to distinguish him from Simon Peter. He died after being crucified in Jerusalem during the First Revolt against Rome (also known as the Great Revolt). A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus over for dinner, where a sinful woman famously poured perfume on Jesus feet (Luke 7:40). The group formally known as the Zealots had strong associations with inciting rebellion out of a sense of liberty and patriotism. Ethiopian Christians believe he was crucified in Samaria. 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? St. Simon the Zealot's (Simon Kananaios) cave in Abkhazia, Georgia, The Apostle Simon the Zealot by Georg Gsell, Simon Zelotes evangelische Kirche Leihgestern. New Living Translation Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Simon's other siblings . A few pseudepigraphical writings were connected to him, but Saint Jerome does not include him in De viris illustribus written between 392 and 393 AD.[4]. "[12][13], In the apocryphal Arabic Infancy Gospel a fact related to this apostle is mentioned. I'm sure that's why The Chosen decided to make Simon a former Zealot who has repented and turned to Jesus. Season 1 of The Chosen was able to unfold the pre-Jesus backstory of its primary characters gradually over the course of an episode (in the case of Mary) or more (in the case of Matthew, Simon Peter, Andrew, and Nicodemus). 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. The word, "Zealot" is a title driven from the Hebrew word qanai, meaning zealous. The failure in ancient manuscripts to distinguish formal nouns allows for differing interpretations regarding the use of the term zealot. It seems clear, however, that Jewish and Christian writings of the period refer to a wide variety of offenses against which private individuals or groups might act in zeal on behalf of the community, some of these actions being revolutionary and others not.. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. Simon the Zealot is one of the most obscure apostles. (NIV) Acts 1:13 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. If you're like me, watching The Chosen is about more than entertainment. We are exposed to the indignities and oppression he witnessed as a young man and sympathize with his desire to make things right. And, who knows? (14-16) Simon, (whom he also named Peter).--For the list of the Twelve Apostles see Notes on Matthew 10:2.. The Bible does not give us his name or mention anyone to whom he was related. To begin your discussion, ask your youth group: What stuck out to you about this episode? A boy named Simon is bitten by a snake in his hand; he is healed by Jesus, who told the child "you shall be my disciple". Jessie pleads with his brother not to complete a Zealot mission to kill a Roman . The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. [22], "St. Simon" redirects here. Berean Standard Bible Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. p. After John was arrested by Herod the Great, Simon joined the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and informed them of John's arrest. That being said, the show hasn't created Nathanael's vocation out of whole clothe. Some might have family members carry them back and forth from home and help them when needed, but others were basically homeless people who had to beg in order to get food and care. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the second explanation will prove true, but I would prefer the first - since there are plenty of other miracle healings that the show could have utilized instead of undermining a central feature of this specific story. Now that day was the Sabbath. 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. Who Was Herod? [citation needed] As such, the translation of the word as "the Cananite" or "the Canaanite" is without contemporary extra-canonic parallel. 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. [18] Nikephoros I of Constantinople writes:[18][19]. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? 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. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. Nevertheless, what John gives us about Nathanael is much more substantial and evocative than what we get concerning Simon. Matthew 10:1-4), he appears to have already been established as a disciple of Jesus. In a smaller ensemble, it's common for character abilities to fall into basic archetypal patterns like. 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. What kinds of things do people today put their hope in? Muslim tradition says that Simon was sent to preach the faith of God to the Berbers, outside North Africa. Weaknesses prevent characters from appearing over-powered and instead provide a hook that helps connect them to viewers. Simon has been identified with Simon the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55), but there also are reasons in favor of identifying him with Nathanael. As we mentioned earlier, Rhoades argues that Josephus work makes it clear that there was no formal group called the Zealots until about 68 AD. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. 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. 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?" (John 5:4, KJV). In these lay a multitude of invalidsblind, lame, and paralyzed. Why do you think Jesus asked him that question? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Simon born in Cana of Galilee who for his fervent affection for his Master and great zeal that he showed by all means to the Gospel, was surnamed Zelotes, having received the Holy Ghost from above, travelled through Egypt, and Africa, then through Mauretania and all Libya, preaching the Gospel. However, his title "the Zealot" suggests that he may have been a member of a band of violent Jewish revolutionaries. [1] New Testament [ edit] In Matthew 13:55, people ask concerning Jesus, "Is not this the carpenter's son? I hope you enjoy them! 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. Regarding this Simon's name, "Zealot," there are possibilities. It could mean he belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Zealots. Or did he in fact find a way to straddle the two movements? But the group known as the Zealots may not have existed at the time the gospels took placepossibly not even when they were written. 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. Barbara Thiering identified Simon Zelotes with Simon Magus; however, this view has received no serious acceptance. Both Kananaios and Kananites derive from the Hebrew word qanai, meaning zealous, although Jerome and others mistook the word to signify the apostle was from the town of Cana, in which case his epithet would have been "Kanaios", or even from the region of Canaan. Apparently the titles may have been an attempt to distinguish him from the apostle St. Simon Peter. In Islam, Muslim exegesis and Quran commentary name the twelve apostles and include Simon amongst the disciples. Whether called Simon the Canaanite or Simon the Zealot, some theories suggest his nickname may have stuck simply as a way to distinguish him from Simon Peter. 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. In what ways do these hopes end up disappointing us? 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.. In a post-GOT world, however, audiences are more willing than they once were to engage with a broad cast of well-developed characters. Isidore of Seville drew together the accumulated anecdotes of Simon in De Vita et Morte. Simeon of Jerusalem was a Jewish Christian leader and according to most Christian traditions the second Bishop of Jerusalem (63 or 70-107 or 117), succeeding James, brother of Jesus. 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. The Zealots were associated with violent uprisings (including, later, the First Jewish-Roman War), and expected the coming Messiah to overthrow Rome using force. With a group as large as the twelve + disciples, however, the gifts and personality of each character needs to be more specialized. He had been a merchant in Capernaum . 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), 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, Quintus, Gaius, and the Romans in The Chosen, Episode 8 Guide: The Feeding of the 5,000. According to an Eastern tradition Simon travelled to Georgia on a missionary trip, died in Abkhazia and was buried in Nicopsia. What has Jesse the Invalid put his hope in to bring salvation? Or maybe he simply had a personality that resembled that of the Zealots. This draws our attention to something significant about the way The Chosen is adapting the figures of Simon the Zealot and Nathanael. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. 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. 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. Poured perfume on Jesus feet ( Luke 7:40 ) is a title driven the. 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