Zealots
Part 2 From the Ency. Judica 16:948
| In the Gospel of
Mark. probably written in Rome shortly after 70 C.E. and
revealing a strong apologetical concern to dissociate
Jesus from the involvement in Jewish nationalism,
conceals from it's gentile readers the Zealot affiliation
of Simon by leaving his Aramaic designation, Cananaean,
untranslated into it's Greek equivalent of Zelotes
which the later Luke supplies ( Mark 3:18 ; Luke 6:15 ;
cf. Acts 1:13) the fact that Simon was known as "the
Zealot" seems to have twofold signifiance: by thus
distinguishing the apostle, it would appear that Jesus
himself was not a Zealot leader; but Simon's inclusion
amoung the apostles suggests that the profession of
Zealot principles was not inconsistent with the teaching
of Jesus. The gospels provide two to Zealot activity at
this time. Mention is made in Luke 13:1 of certain "Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. "ther is some evidence that the Zealots were sometimes "Galileans", possibly from the Galilean origin of their founder. At tthe Roman trial of Jesus, his fate was linked with that of the fate of Barabbas insurrection against the Romans (Mark 15:7). At his execution for sedition he was crucified between two lestai ( Mark 15:27 ; John 19:18) Since lestai was the official Greek designation for Zealots, the fact probably indicates that the Romans viewed Jesus as a Zealot leader. |
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