Zealot

An ancient sect of the Jews, so called from their pretended zeal for God’s law, and the honour of religion.

ZEALOT (Gr. ζηλωτής) occurs in Luk 6:15 and Act 1:13 as the designation of Simon, one of the Twelve. In the lists given by Mt. and Mk. the equivalent ‘Cananaean’ (Καναναῖος) is used. The Zealots were the rigorous Nationalists, the party of violent opposition to Roman domination. Josephus (Ant. xviii. i. 6) calls them a ‘fourth sect of Jewish philosophy,’ and says that ‘Judas the Galilaean was the founder.’ He adds: ‘These men agree in all 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’; he speaks of their ‘immovable resolution’ and their indifference to suffering and death. These qualities were all abundantly illustrated in the final struggle at Jerusalem and at Masada. Edersheim (LT [Note: T Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah [Edersheim].] i. 237 ff.) dates the rise of the party from the accession of Herod the Great [Note: reat Cranmer’s ‘Great’ Bible 1539.] , and the activity of guerilla bands in Galilee under the leadership of one Ezechias. ‘It was in fact a revival of the Maccabean movement, perhaps more fully in its national than in its religious aspect.’ Plummer (‘St. Luke’ in ICC [Note: CC International Critical Commentary.] ) attaches more importance to the religious aspect of the movement:—‘The Zealots date from the time of the Maccabees as a class who attempted to force upon others their own rigorous interpretations of the Law.’ In the later stages of the Jewish history the party grew more violent. Its ringleaders were known as the Sicarii, and their overthrow of all moderating leadership sealed the doom of Jerusalem. There is no special difficulty in believing that a member of this party might be attracted to Jesus and become one of His chosen disciples. Galilee was the home of the party, and it naturally included in it men of very different types, from the religious fanatic to the partisan of revolution. Simon’s zealotry, purified by the knowledge of Jesus, might readily become true loyalty to the Kingdom of God. Edersheim gives us the additional explanation that, at the period when the ministry of Jesus began, ‘A brief calm had fallen upon the land. There was nothing to provoke active resistance, and the party of the Zealots, although existing, and striking deeper root in the hearts of the people, was, for the time, rather what Josephus called it, “the philosophical party”—their minds busy with an ideal, which their hands were not yet preparing to make a reality’ (op. cit. p. 243). We should, however, take note of the alternative possibility (see Plummer, loc. cit.) that Simon may have been called ζηλωτής ‘because of his personal character either before or after his call,’ as St. Paul (Gal 1:14) styles himself περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς … τῶν … παραδόσεων. See also Cananaean.

E. H. Titchmarsh.

ZEALOT.—See Cananæan, Messiah (p. 610^a f.), Pharisees.

(Matt 10)

- Related to "zeal" from the Greek "to boil". Member of one of the Jewish partisan or terrorist groups dedicated to overthrowing Roman rule of Palestine.

In the opening years of the New Testament era, the Romans exercised their rule over Judea firstly through Herod the Great and then through Herod’s son, Archelaus. But in AD 6 the Romans replaced Archelaus with a governor sent out from Rome, and Judea for the first time came under direct Roman rule (cf. Mat 2:22).

Since Rome could no longer collect Judea’s taxes through the Herods, it conducted a census of the province in preparation for collecting the taxes direct. A group of Jews, led by a man called Judas the Galilean, rebelled against this direct taxation, claiming that God’s people should not pay taxes to a pagan emperor. Because of their zeal in trying to keep Israel free from pagan influence, they became known as Zealots (or Patriots). They formed a minor political party in Israel (Act 5:37). One of the twelve apostles was possibly at some time a member of the Zealots (Luk 6:15; Act 1:13).

The Zealots maintained their opposition to Rome in spite of persecution and even the execution of some of their members. From time to time other anti-Roman extremists joined them. Among these was a group known as the Assassins, who hid daggers in their clothing and murdered any whom they suspected of being on the side of the Romans (Act 21:38).

In AD 66, bitter at the mismanagement of Jewish affairs by the corrupt governors of Judea, the Zealots led an open rebellion against Rome. The Jews were divided among themselves, with various extremists competing for leadership. Nevertheless, they held Jerusalem against the Romans for four years. During this time Rome had systematically conquered Galilee, Perea and Judea. Finally, in AD 70, they conquered Jerusalem, destroying the temple and most of the city. This marked the end of the national life of Israel.

A term used to describe Jews who

had an enthusiastic desire or “zeal” to

maintain the purity of Judaism—the

land, the Temple, observance of the law

and the traditions. This desire included

a willingness to do whatever necessary

to protect this purity against any outside

threat, such as Roman control. This

kind of spirit eventually brought about

the formation of a group of Jewish patriots

known as the Zealots. (Note that in

Mt. 10:4 and Mk. 3:18 Zealot is used to

translate the Aramaic term, Cananaean,

which had the same meaning.)