Bible Dictionary: Simon the Zealot

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Simon the Zealot

SIMON THE CANAANITE; SIMON THE CANANAEAN; SIMON THE ZEALOT

(Simon Kananaios; kanna'i, "the Jealous (or Zealous) One"): One of the Twelve Apostles. This Simon was also named "the Canaanite" (Matthew 10:4 Mark 3:18 the King James Version) or "the Cananean" (Matthew 10:4 Mark 3:18 the Revised Version (British and American)) or "Zelotes" (Luke 6:15 Acts 1:13 the King James Version) or "the Zealot" (Luke 6:15 Acts 1:13 the Revised Version (British and American)).

According to the "Gospel of the Ebionites" or" Gospel of the Twelve Apostles" (of the 2nd century and mentioned by Origen) Simon received his call to the apostleship along with Andrew and Peter, the sons of Zebedee, Thaddaeus and Judas Iscariot at the Sea of Tiberias (compare Matthew 4:18-22; see also Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 24-27).

Although Simon, like the majority of the apostles, was probably a Galilean, the designation "Cananaean" is regarded as of political rather than of geographical significance (compare Luke's rendering). The Zealots were a faction, headed by Judas of Galilee, who "in the days of the enrollment" (compare Acts 5:37 Luke 2:1, 2) bitterly opposed the threatened increase of taxation at the census of Quirinius, and would have hastened by the sword the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

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.

Thus (1) all the arguments adduced in favor of the Bartholomew-Nathanael identification (see NATHANAEL) can equally be applied to that of Simon-Nathanael, except the second. But the second is of no account, since the Philip-Bartholomew connection in the Synoptists occurs merely in the apostolic lists, while in John it is narrative. Further, in the Synoptists, Philip is connected in the narrative, not with Bartholomew but with Andrew.

(2) The identity is definitely stated in the Genealogies of the Twelve Apostles (see NATHANAEL). Further, the "Preaching of Simon, son of Cleopas" (compare Budge, II, 70;) has the heading "The preaching of the blessed Simon, the son of Cleopas, who was surnamed Judas, which is interpreted Nathanael, who became bishop of Jerusalem after James the brother of our Lord." Eusebius (Historia Ecclesiastica, III, xi, 32; IV, xxii) also refers to a Simon who succeeded James as bishop of Jerusalem and suffered martyrdom under Trajan; and Hegesippus, whom Eusebius professes to quote, calls this Simon a son of Cleopas.

(3) The invitation of Philip to Nathanael (compare John 1:45) was one which would naturally be addressed to a follower of the Zealots, who based their cause on the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

(4) As Alpheus, the father of James, is generally regarded as the same as Clopas or Cleopas (see JAMES), this identification of the above Simon Nathanael, son of Cleopas, with Simon Zelotes would shed light on the reason of the juxtaposition of James son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes in the apostolic lists of Luke and Acts, i.e. they were brothers.

C. M. Kerr

Greek

2581. Kananaios -- Cananaean, Aramaic for Zealot, surname of one ...
... he was an adherent of the -- "Simon the Canaanite (Mt 10: 4; Mk 3:18). Word Origin
of Aramaic origin Definition Cananaean, Aramaic for Zealot, surname of one ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2581.htm - 7k

Library

After Prayer Jesus Selects Twelve Apostles.
... Alphæus, and James the son of Alphæus James the son of Alphæus, 10 and Thaddæus;
and Thaddæus and Simon called the Zealot, and Simon the Zealot 11 Simon ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xli after prayer jesus selects.htm

Jesus Calls Together his Friends and Helpers
... his brother, whom he called "Sons of Thunder," Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus calls together his friends.htm

Hippolytus on the Twelve Apostles:
... Simon the Zealot, [2026] the son of Clopas, who is also called Jude, became bishop
of Jerusalem after James the Just, and fell asleep and was buried there at ...
/.../hippolytus on the twelve apostles .htm

Letter cix. To Riparius.
... I have read of the javelin of Phinehas, [3032] of the harshness of Elijah, [3033]
of the jealous anger of Simon the zealot, [3034] of the severity of Peter in ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cix to riparius.htm

And the Pharisees Went Out, and Consulted Together Concerning Him. ...
... and [21] John, and Philip and Bartholomew, [634] and Matthew and Thomas, and James
the son [22] of Alphæus, and Simon which was called the Zealot, [635] and ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section viii and the pharisees.htm

Selection of the Twelve.
... sons of thunder; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the publican; James
the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot, and Judas ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/selection of the twelve.htm

C. The Third Period. Chs. 6:12 to 8:56
... brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew and Thomas,
and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/c the third period chs.htm

Seed Scattered and Taking Root
... Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip ...
and were stirred to sympathy with his victims; and the zealot, who with ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture the acts/seed scattered and taking root.htm

The Twelve and the Seventy.
... His namesake, the other Simon, was termed the Canaanite, and also Zelotes, [38:7]
or the zealot"a title expressive, in all likelihood, of the zeal and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iii the twelve and.htm

Ambassadors for Christ
... Simon 'the Canaanite' (Auth. Ver.) is properly 'the Cananaan' (Rev. Ver.).
There ... The name is a late Aramaic word meaning zealot. Hence ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/ambassadors for christ.htm

Subtopics

Simon: A Leper: Jesus Dines With

Simon: A Man from the City of Cyrene: Compelled to Carry Jesus' Cross

Simon: A Pharisee: Jesus Dines With

Simon: A Physical Half-Brother of Jesus

Simon: A Sorcerer (Also Called Simon Magus): Rebuked by Peter