The Apostle Simon, Called "The Zealot", And Also The Apostle Jude. Series

#10 ~Apostle Simon, the Zealot ~~ 2-8-14

And the Apostle Judas, Thaddeus, Lebbaeus --same person ~ son of James.

Today we'll continue with our study of the apostles, and today we'll talk a few minutes about the apostle Simon, called "the Zealot", and as time permits the Apostle Jude as well.

~ One reason Simon is called "the Zealot" is to distinguish him from the Apostle Simon Peter.

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"Simon" means, "God hears" -- the name of nine men in the New Testament:

1. Simon Peter.

2. Simon the zealot.

3. One of Jesus' brothers (Matt. 13:55).

4. A former leper - (Matt. 26:6--13.

5. A man of Cyrene who was forced to carry Jesus' cross (Matt. 27:32.

6. A Pharisee in whose house Jesus ate (Luke 7:36--50)

7. The father of Judas Iscariot (John 13:2).

8. A sorcerer known as Simon Magus (Acts 8:9--24).

9. A tanner of Joppa and friend of the apostle Peter (Acts 9:43;

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~ Luke the writer of the gospel of Luke and Acts refers to Simon Zelotes in;

>Luke 6:15-16 - Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, (full of zeal) 16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

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>Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

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~In the gospels of Matthew and Mark, Simon the Zealot is called Simon the Canaanite.

>Matt. 10: 4 - Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

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>Mk. 3:18-19 - and Simon the Canaanite, 19And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him:

~ "Simon the Canaanite"-- is not a reference to the land of Canaan or the village of Cana. -- It comes from a Hebrew word that means "to be zealous."

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~ Simon was given this nick name, "Zealot" because earlier he had been a member of a Jewish political party known as the Zealots. --- It may also suggest that he had a fiery, zealous temperament.

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~ There's nothing recorded in the N.T. about any things Simon said, or the deeds he may have done, he was sent out as the other disciples were to be Jesus witness's, He sent them out by two's.

~ But we are told that he was at one time a member of an opposing party called ZELOTS, they were against the Roman government that was then ruling the Jews. -- And so knowing this, we have a good understanding of Simon's character.

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~ A "Zealot" was a member of a Jewish sect that opposed the Roman domination of the land of Israel during the first century.

* It is said that Simon was sawn in half.

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~ LISTEN, I want to say something about the land of Israel, -- Listen; in 135 a.d. Roman Emperor Hadrian placed on the country of Israel the name "Palestine."--- People have used this name for so long that it has become common usage. -- This would be as incorrect as calling the Russia of today the "Soviet Union" or referring to Berlin as "East Germany."

~ Roman Emperor Hadrian wanted to do away with the memory of Israel, and Israel's enemies are still trying today.

~ Listen, the so called "Palestinian people" of today that's causing so much trouble in Israel are not really a nation of people at all. -- The O.T. mentions the "Philistines" and the Canaanites" that were occupants there at one time, but never the "Palestinians". Today the "Philistines and the Canaanites" are extinct.

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* Back to the "ZEALOTES".

~ When the Jews rebelled against the Romans in a.d. 66 and tried to gain their independence, the "Zealots" were in the forefront of the revolt.

~ The Zealots were devoted to the Jewish law and religion, but unlike most Pharisees, they thought it was treason against God to pay tribute to the Roman emperor since God alone was Israel's king. --- They were willing to fight to the death for Jewish independence.

~ Without doubt, Simon the zealot, was at one time against Matthew, who was a tax collector for Rome, this was of coarse before Matthew or Simon were followers of Christ.

~ Barabas was also among the Zealots. -- He was arrested for insurrection and fighting against the Roman government, to me, it seems that Barabas felt that he was fighting a just cause; he was willing to die for that cause, he, like Simon was opposed to the Roman rule over Gods people.

~ All down through the years we have understood Barabas to be a criminal, and we do read in the gospels that he was a robber, so in Rome's view Barabas was a criminal, but let us not forget his objectives, he was for Israel's freedom from Roman rule, the same as Simon. -- If the Zealots had been opposed to Roman rule in Rome then the Zealots would be wrong, but Rome was ruling the Jews in their own land.