We also need to think about how their characters are shaped by the structure of The Chosen and the demands of modern screen adaptation. 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. Just as it's important for every character in an ensemble to contribute in a meaningful way, it's also important for each of them to have unique weaknesses, vulnerabilities, or vices. 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. Some of these Zealots, known as Sicarii, would carry out terrorist attacks and assassinations of Romans and Jews who cooperated with the Roman Empire. 2010-11-26 00:36:58. Apparently the titles may have been an attempt to distinguish him from the apostle St. Simon Peter. It is possible that Judas Iscariot, another member of the Twelve and the one who went on to betray Jesus, was a former Zealot as well. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Its unclear when the group formally became known as the Zealots. Verse Concepts. Nathanael's prologue establishes his aspiration to be a great architect. This episode is our first extended visit to Jerusalem and introduces us to Simon the Zealot, a future disciple, as well as the invalid at the pool of Bethesda (who, in The Chosen, is the brother of Simon the Zealot). When did Simon Peter first meet Jesus? Why do you think The Chosen made Simon the Zealot and Jesse the Invalid brothers? Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? Simon the Zealot and Nathanael in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), S3 still - Feeding the 5,000 - Jesus and Simon the Zealot feed the hungry crowd, The only biblical references to Simon the Zealot are found in listings of the 12 disciples (, The Bible itself never explains Simon's relationship to the Zealot movement. When Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant. A common interpretation of the title "Zealot" credited to Simon is that before he became a disciple of Jesus, he was a member of or affiliated with the radical Jewish group called the Zealots. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This mistake led to the idea that Simon was present at the wedding in Cana in John 2, where Jesus performed his first miracle and turned water into wine, and that he was the same person as Simon, the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). 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. What do you think it looks like to stop putting hope in things that disappoint us, like the Pool of Bethesda, and to instead focus our hopes around Jesus? We are exposed to the indignities and oppression he witnessed as a young man and sympathize with his desire to make things right. They hoped to accomplish this by inciting the people to rebellion, driving the Romans from Israel, and establishing a Mosaic theocracy. Another odd aspect of Simon's appointment was that the Zealots generally agreed with the Pharisees, as far as legalistic observance of the commandments. Notice that the man doesn't reply directly to Jesus' question. This draws our attention to something significant about the way The Chosen is adapting the figures of Simon the Zealot and Nathanael. This version is the one found in the Golden Legend. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. The Chosen follows this theory and portrays Simon as a Zealot who gives up his violent ways in order to follow Jesus. ~65 or ~107 place of death disputed. Bible References: Simon the Zealot is mentioned in Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, andActs 1:13. [9] Another tradition holds that this is the Simeon of Jerusalem who became the second bishop of Jerusalem, although he was born in Galilee. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Corrections? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Bartholomew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus (e.g., Matthew 10:3). At first glance, this may seem like a rather minor structural detail. In the biblical tradition, human acts of zeal punished idolatrous violations of Gods right to exclusive allegiance from Israel. The group formally known as the Zealots had strong associations with inciting rebellion out of a sense of liberty and patriotism. What emotions do you imagine you'd feel? . The Bible gives us very little information about Simon the Zealot and no information about his family. In Episode 2 of The Chosen Season 2, Jesus encountered a man who had his career crumble all around him. What did Simon the Zealot do before he met Jesus? After watching The Chosen, have you ever felt inspired to create your own work of Bible Art or biblical adaptation? The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. Jesus Christ transcends political causes, governments, and all earthly turmoil. The Bible itself never explains Simon's relationship to the Zealot movement. In this account, in his second mission to Britain, he arrived during the first year of Boadicea's rebellion (60 AD). He was crucified 10 May 61 AD by the Roman Catus Decianus, at Caistor, modern-day Lincolnshire, Britain. Since the Apostle Simon is only listed among the apostles (and hes completely absent from the Gospel of John), theres not much we can say about him. 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. The Zealots (as The Chosen shows) were a group of religious insurgents, who sought to push back against the oppressive practices of Rome through violence, terrorism, and assassination. Did you have any questions about what happened? In the Bible, when Jesus says he saw Nathanael under the fig tree (. His kingdom is eternal. 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. [10][11], James Tissot, Saint Simon, Brooklyn Museum. Verse Concepts. While the Chosen depicts Simon the Zealot as the brother of Jesse, the invalid Jesus heals by the Pool of Bethesda, this detail does not come from the Gospels. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. And it was in Gessius Floruss time that the nation began to grow mad with this distemper, who was our procurator, and who occasioned the Jews to go wild with it by the abuse of his authority, and to make them revolt from the Romans.. 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). Other church fathers made this error as well, and it was perpetuated throughout church tradition for so long that some modern translations still say, Simon the Cananite or Simon the Cananean in Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18. Eastern tradition says Simon died peacefully at Edessa. 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. zealots. 16. 28 Bible Verses about zealots. Some interpreters have seen it as an allusion to 1 Kings 4:25, which describes the reign of King Solomon, to whom "son of God" language is sometimes applied (e.g., Psalm 2). 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". By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. In this guide, well dig into the ambiguities surrounding this lesser-known biblical figure, address some common confusions, and look at how he may have died. While there may only be one path that saves us, that path can be entered through a variety doorways. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. After all, when we see a glaring vice in a character, most of us can either see it in ourselves or in other people we know. Nothing further is known about him from the New Testament. Before watching The Chosen, had you ever given much thought to Simon the Zealot or Nathanael? That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, It is the Lord! When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, called Peter and his brother Andrew. There are numerous accounts of Simon the Zealots death, but the earliest records come centuries after his death. Today we'll be exploring what the Bible says about Simon and Nathanael and how The Chosen adapts them to the screen. They were . 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., The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. Learn Religions. See answer (1) Copy. "[12][13], In the apocryphal Arabic Infancy Gospel a fact related to this apostle is mentioned. When Peter had his vision of unclean food, he was staying at Simon the Tanners house (Acts 9:43). During his three years of ministry with Jesus, Simon the Zealot matured into an apostle empowered to spread the gospel in truth and love to all nations. There are two possible explanations for this. Zavada, Jack. Certain Old Latin translations of the Gospel of Matthew substitute "Judas the Zealot" for Thaddeus/Lebbaeus in Matthew 10:3. In the English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, and New Living Translation he is called Simon the Zealot. Wiki User. [citation needed]. So who was this person the Bible calls Simon the Zealot, and what do we actually know about him? Simon's background as a Zealot also establishes that he is a serious, disciplined, and *surprise* zealous person. Or maybe he simply had a personality that resembled that of the Zealots. He discovers that Jesse has been healed by Jesus. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Robert Eisenman has argued that contemporary talmudic references to Zealots refer to them as kanna'im "but not really as a grouprather as avenging priests in the Temple". 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. Nathanael's aspiration to build great things for God becomes a kind of excuse/justification that allows his arrogance to grow out of control, until it finally lands him in tragedy. As The Chosen has showed us at various points, the Romans were hated by most of the Jews, who viewed them as oppressive enemies. How did Simon the Zealot meet Jesus? He may have suffered crucifixion as the Bishop of Jerusalem. We don't see any signs of Jesse responding to his healing in a sketchy way in Episode 4 of The Chosen Season 2. Fact 3, however, is unique. Why do you think Jesus asked him that question? Or did he in fact find a way to straddle the two movements? Jesus is depicting himself as the stairway between heaven and earth that Jacob once saw at Bethel. 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). "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Our most detailed descriptions of who they were, how their movement started, and what they stood for comes from Flavius Josephus, a Jewish-Roman historian who lived during the first century. How would you react if someone asked you that question after you'd been disabled for almost 40 years? something. The first is that we simply haven't gotten to that point in the story. Some have suggested that Jesus is cryptically alluding to the fig leaves of Genesis 3. When Simon joins the Zealots, we understand that he is being driven by his longing for justice. Simon the Zealot is one of the greatest cases of the changing power of Christ. 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. On Pauls third missionary journey, Jews and Jewish Christians who were zealous for the Law wanted to kill Paul (Acts 21:20; 23:1214). Poorly-made religious films make the mistake of boiling down the diverse longings that lead people to God into a single uniform desire (usually a desire for love or for forgiveness). Moreover, in addition to being a compelling story, The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 offers several interesting themes that will be worth exploring with your youth group. I want the youth to enjoy it and not just see The Chosen as an elaborate preaching illustration. Zavada, Jack. as members of a sect called the Zealots.. Apparently the titles may have been an attempt to distinguish him from the apostle St. Simon Peter. [13] Tradition also claims he died peacefully at Edessa. But what we do know is this: he passionately believed in . Which disciples seem to be the potential leaders of the group? Nathanael and Simon the Zealot (and Judas) are each drawn into an encounter with Jesus by distinct longings. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM, Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool (Exploring The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 with Youth), Dallas and Jonathan Season 2 of The Chosen, After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. The Bible does not give us his name or mention anyone to whom he was related. There are nine people named Simon in the New Testament. In Islam, Muslim exegesis and Quran commentary name the twelve apostles and include Simon amongst the disciples. Eastern tradition claims he died of old age in Edessa. He was one of the original followers of Christ. In Acts, a man known as Simon the Sorceror attempted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from Peter (Acts 8:9-24). The Chosen introduces Simon the Zealot and Nathanael (as well as Judas) in similar ways, using teaser segments/prologues. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Most scholars believe he teamed up with Judas (surname Thaddeus) to spread the Gospel throughout Persia and Egypt. Simon the Zealot's prologue establishes his longing to combat evil and injustice. 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. Omissions? 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. [21], In art, Simon has the identifying attribute of a saw because according to tradition he was martyred by being sawn in half. https://www.learnreligions.com/simon-the-zealot-mystery-apostle-701071 (accessed May 1, 2023). In the Bible, there is no indication that Nathanael was an architect. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. We know almost nothing about Simon the Zealot. When his assassination attempt is thwarted, however, it seems like Simon's dream of justice will also be thwarted. According to St. To overcome his vice, Simon needs to recognize that there is a greater justice at work in the world - a Chosen King who has come to make things right not through the sword but through healing - and he needs to reorient his discipline and zeal around Him. Jesus was not afraid to identify himself with business men, laboring men, optimists, pessimists, philosophers, skeptics, publicans, politicians, and patriots. 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? 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. In these lay a multitude of invalidsblind, lame, and paralyzed. Each of the apostles was chosen for a specific reason. How did Jesus meet Simon Peter? 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?" And they took offense at him. 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. To watch this season with your group, you'll need to pick up The Chosen app (Google / Apple). And Jesus saw in him the potential to spread the kingdom of heaven throughout the earth, not by force, but with the revolutionary power of love. The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. 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? They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Eusebius states that after Simon become the second bishop of Jerusalem (a statement that agrees . 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 (. [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. A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus over for dinner, where a sinful woman famously poured perfume on Jesus feet (Luke 7:40). Why was he mad at Jesus? Jesus said to them, Children, do you have any fish? They answered him, No. He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. Jesus' kingdom was not about politics but salvation. In the Bible, when Jesus says he saw Nathanael under the fig tree (John 1:43-51), there is no indication what Jesus saw Nathanael doing under the fig tree or why this phrase was so significant. Similar to the callings of some other apostles, the Bible says that Jesus sought out and discovered Philip just before the Messiah was about to depart for Galilee (John 1:43). When Jesus cleanses the temple in the Gospel of John, his disciples recall Psalm 69:10, implying that Jesus was motivated by zeal: His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me.. Logos Bible Software 10 review: Do you REALLY need it? Click here for my affiliation policy. They are number nine, ten and eleven in the list of the disciples. Carrying a mat around was forbidden on the Sabbath, so we can expect that their conflict with Jesus about this to come up in next episode of The Chosen Season 2. "And when they had entered, they . If thats what the Zealot refers to, then like Matthew the Tax Collector, the Apostle Simons presence among the Twelve represents a powerful picture of the gospel. For the most part, I just clarify who characters are and occasionally I briefly explained a reference or allusion that is confusing to my youth. Facts 1 and 2 are true of most of the disciples. As a result, there's a lot of latitude for how they can be depicted in Bible adaptation. It was most likely an underground hot spring. [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. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.". He found Philip and said to him, Follow me. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Two of them are among Jesus Twelve ApostlesSimon the Zealot and Simon Peter. 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. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed. But he answered them, The man who healed me, that man said to me, Take up your bed, and walk. They asked him, Who is the man who said to you, Take up your bed and walk? Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM. "Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle." Life Christian Ethiopians claim that he was crucified in Samaria, while Justus Lipsius writes that he was sawn in half at Suanir, Persia. 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. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Simon was powerless to prevent it. From the perspective of understanding Nathanael, this story suggests (but doesn't require) that Nathanael may have had a background in fishing. Their tactic was to mingle in crowds during festivals, slip up behind a victim, then kill him with their Sicari, or short curved knife. However, his title "the Zealot" suggests that he may have been a member of a band of violent Jewish revolutionaries. "St. Jude Thaddeus and St. Simon the Zealot, Apostles", All appearances of "Simon" in the New Testament, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simon_the_Zealot&oldid=1151638594. The Apostle Paul talks about his own zeal and the zeal of the Israelites on multiple occasions (Philippians 3:6, Galatians 1:13-14, Acts 22:3, and Romans 10:1-4). Perhaps surprisingly, one of Christ's own disciples, Simon, was a member of the Zealots prior to meeting Jesus. Died. 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. Where did Simon the Zealot live? In The Chosen, the man at the pool is given the name Jesse and is depicted as the brother of Simon the Zealot (see more above). The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. To begin your discussion, ask your youth group: What stuck out to you about this episode? When his building collapses, Nathanael fears that his dream of building something great for God has collapsed as well. Simon the Zealot must have been shaken by the violence of Jesus' crucifixion. Judas was apparently killed as a result of his actions.. Jesus was the ultimate judge of character and saw an intensity in Simon the Zealot that would work well in spreading the gospel. "[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. In some versions of the Bible (such as the Amplified Bible), Simon is called Simon the Cananaean, which is from the Aramaic word for zealot. (NIV). Jesus teachings (such as turning the other cheek and loving your enemies) were often the complete opposite of the ideology the Zealots embraced. The mention ends with the phrase "this is Simon the Cananite, of whom mention is made in the Gospel. . Jesus then simply tells him to get up and walk and he's healed. There are several stories about how Simon the Zealot may have died. The word we translate as apostle (apstolos) literally means one who is sent.. If you're like me, watching The Chosen is about more than entertainment. There are no early church records of Simon the Zealots ministry, so its hard to say where he spread the gospelbut presumably, he did. Simon is mentioned occasionally in early church writings, but centuries after the gospels were written, Saint Jerome and others mistranslated Simons title, believing that Matthew and Mark referred to him as Simon the Cananite or Simon the Cananaean. Such details are often quite instructive though if we pause and consider how they function. Ethiopian Christians believe he was crucified in Samaria. Wait There Were How Many Herods?! 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. Learn Religions, Apr. The Catholic Church defined that "brothers of Jesus" are not biological children of Mary, [2] because of the dogma of the perpetual virginity of Mary, by virtue of which it rejects the idea that Simon and any other than Jesus Christ God could be a biological son of Mary, suggesting that the so-called Desposyni were either sons of Joseph from a . As a teaser for the future, explain to your students: You might have noticed Shmuel, the Pharisee who opposed Jesus in The Chosen Season 1, was back and joined by a new group of Pharisees. Nathanael's vices are tied to both his longings and his gifts . One thing Apostle Simon the Zealot facts tell us is we can conclude is Simon's zeal turned from overthrowing governments to following Jesus' teachings. Did the healing of the invalid man by the Pool of Bethesda play out like you expected? One such offshoot of the Zealots was the Sicarii, or daggermen, a group of assassins who tried to cast off Roman rule. This would be very in-keeping with the Gospel of John, which is quite interested in the way people initially respond to Jesus with faith when he does a miracle but eventually fall away when he doesn't something inexplicable or the water gets too hot. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. 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. James the Less, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot (Men Jesus Called - Part 6) by Mike Campagna on Vimeo. (John 5:10-16 ESV), 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. The Zealots were associated with violent uprisings (including, later, the First Jewish-Roman War), and expected the coming Messiah to overthrow Rome using force. Vespasian became emperor and granted Josephus Roman citizenship. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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. 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. 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.
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