By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus over for dinner, where a sinful woman famously poured perfume on Jesus feet (Luke 7:40). However, his title "the Zealot" suggests that he may have been a member of a band of violent Jewish revolutionaries. In these lay a multitude of invalidsblind, lame, and paralyzed. The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. Explain that this episode of The Chosen Season 2 will be exploring many of these questions imaginatively, filling in the details that the Bible leaves us to wonder about. Having examined what the Bible says about Simon the Zealot and Nathanael, however, it should be clear why it's necessary for The Chosen to build on what the Bible says. Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. Is Simon a disciple of Jesus? We can connect Rufus with Rome because of Paul's letter to the Romans many years later. I only know of one person called Peter in the Bible, but there are several guys named Simon in the Bible. 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). We don't see any signs of Jesse responding to his healing in a sketchy way in Episode 4 of The Chosen Season 2. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit! Nathanael said to him, How do you know me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God! Of course, within the frame of the narrative itself, Jesus appears to be demonstrating his super-human knowledge - a common theme in the Gospel of John. Other scholars disagree. Wait There Were How Many Herods?! chloe johnson peter buck wedding; le mal en elle fin du film The backstory prologues gives us a thumbnail sketch of the pride and arrogance that Nathanael is prone to as a result of his great skill and intelligence. However, Josephus attempted to trace the groups origins back to a small uprising by a man named Judas of Galilee, who stirred up a rebellion due to a Roman census in 6 ADthe very same Roman census which Luke says led Mary and Joseph to Nazareth, where Jesus was born. What did he do? Berean Standard Bible Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. As a former assassin, he is the most physically formidable of the disciples. Or he may have simply been zealous for the Mosaic Law. What kinds of things do people today put their hope in? Whether you're studying on your own or with your small group or ministry, Come and See is a perfect resource to help you dig deeper into The Chosen. He was one of the original followers of Christ. A party called Zealots were famous in the war of the Jews against the Romans. And he had a double name; he was said Simon Zelotes, and Simon Cananean of Cana a street that is in Galilee, there whereas our Lord converted the water into wine.. 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 (. In a post-GOT world, however, audiences are more willing than they once were to engage with a broad cast of well-developed characters. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Simon the Zealot may be the same person as Simeon of Jerusalem or Simon the brother of Jesus or both. Older adaptations of the Gospels tended to depict Simon the Zealot and Nathanael in this way, if they depicted them at all. I hope you enjoy them! Logos Bible Software 10 review: Do you REALLY need it? Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! He grew to deeply love his stepmother, however he spent most his time with his brother. Since Simon is commonly identified with the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, its worth unpacking who they were. Simon Peter (the disciple) Simon the Zealot (another disciple, which may be why Jesus called the other Simon, Peter) Simon the brother of Jesus (his other brothers were James, Joseph, and Judas) Simon the leper (the owner of the home where . In any case, the gospel writers used this description to distinguish this Simon from Simon Peterand the other Simons in the New Testament. Season 1 of The Chosen was able to unfold the pre-Jesus backstory of its primary characters gradually over the course of an episode (in the case of Mary) or more (in the case of Matthew, Simon Peter, Andrew, and Nicodemus). St Simon is surnamed the Canaanean or Canaanite, and the Zealot, to distinguish him from St. Peter, and from St. Simeon, the brother of St. James the Less, and his successor in the see of Jerusalem. Some Jewish people might have believed this was because God had blessed these places, but others believed that these healing centers were connected to pagan gods like Asclepius. He is most likely a character invented by The Chosen to help advance the story and perform actions that we know must have happened but which are not described in detail in the Bible. But humans are complex creatures. While there are some variations in the order the apostles appear and even the names they went by, Simon is listed in all of them. 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.. In this account, in his second mission to Britain, he arrived during the first year of Boadicea's rebellion (60 AD). While watching The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4, I make occasional comments through the chat but I try to not do too much teaching. . Simon the Zealot is one of the most obscure apostles. v14 He chose Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, v15-16 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon, whom people called the *Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas . and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?" But its unclear when exactly this group started going by this name. 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. To begin your discussion, ask your youth group: What stuck out to you about this episode? 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. 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. 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. 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". There's also a separate area for you to draw and take notes on your favorite biblical characters. [citation needed] As such, the translation of the word as "the Cananite" or "the Canaanite" is without contemporary extra-canonic parallel. This draws our attention to something significant about the way The Chosen is adapting the figures of Simon the Zealot and Nathanael. He was one of the 12 main disciples of Jesus Christ, but he plays no particular role in the gospels and is only mentioned by name in lists of the apostles (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:1-13). John P. Meier argues that the term "Zealot" is a mistranslation and in the context of the Gospels means "zealous" or "religious" (in this case, for keeping the Law of Moses), as the Zealot movement apparently did not exist until 30 to 40 years after the events of the Gospels. 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. Professor David Rhoades elaborates in The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary: Judas and his followers opposed Jews who cooperated with the census, for they considered cooperation with Caesar to be an idolatrous transgression of the First Commandment to have no other lords before me. Judas small and unsuccessful revolt was carried out in the belief that if the Jews were faithful to the covenant, God would honor their cause by bringing victory in the struggle against Rome. 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. He had been a merchant in Capernaum . [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. [5] Eisenman's broader conclusions, that the zealot element in the original apostle group was disguised and overwritten to make it support the assimilative Pauline Christianity of the Gentiles, are more controversial. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. Univ. The Pool of Bethesda was specifically known to heal people only at a specific time - when the waters had been stirred up. 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). How does it affect your view of Jesse, to know that he had a brother who left him at the pool in order to go fight the Roman Empire? Some scholars believe Josephus exaggerated the Zealots to keep the peace, blaming the war on a small Jewish sect and some bad Roman leaders. 16. Eastern tradition claims he died of old age in Edessa. What has Jesse the Invalid put his hope in to bring salvation? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Chosen recognizes this. The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. So who was this person the Bible calls Simon the Zealot, and what do we actually know about him? Simon the Zealot can't simply be another name on a list - we want to have at least a basic understanding of where he came from and what he contributes as a disciple. He may have suffered crucifixion as the Bishop of Jerusalem. Some of these Pharisees witnessed the healing of Jesse and saw how Jesus told him to get up and take his mat and walk. Simon is the name of one of Jesus brothers (Mark 6:3), whos traditionally believed to have succeeded James as head of the church in Jerusalem. He is only mentioned in passing in the Bible (Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3), but he is sometimes identified with Simeon of Jerusalem and Simon the Zealot. This is he of whose death we read, Acts 12:2; he was slain by Herod. Did you have any questions about what happened? He would then be the cousin of Jesus or a son of Joseph from a previous marriage. The Chosen creatively connects these two characters in order to make a point. He discovers that Jesse has been healed by Jesus. 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. How do the hopes of Simon and Jesse turn out? The show also is also trying to distinguish his personality from the other disciples - his role as an architect suggests precision, intelligence, and creativity, while his encounter with Jesus suggests that he is honest and candid. When Simon joins the Zealots, we understand that he is being driven by his longing for justice. Did he leave the Zealots in order to join the Jesus movement, while continuing to be known for his past association? Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. Simon's mother died in childbirth, so Simon was taken care of by his father and brother, Jesse, who was a paralytic. Two of them are among Jesus Twelve ApostlesSimon the Zealot and Simon Peter. Simeon of Jerusalem was a Jewish Christian leader and according to most Christian traditions the second Bishop of Jerusalem (63 or 70-107 or 117), succeeding James, brother of Jesus. He was a member of the inner circle of Jesus, and he did his missionary and evangelistic work as far as Babylon. From the perspective of understanding Nathanael, this story suggests (but doesn't require) that Nathanael may have had a background in fishing. After John was arrested by Herod the Great, Simon joined the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and informed them of John's arrest. Nevertheless, what John gives us about Nathanael is much more substantial and evocative than what we get concerning Simon. After watching The Chosen, have you ever felt inspired to create your own work of Bible Art or biblical adaptation? 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. Who was he? But what we do know is this: he passionately believed in . 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? You are the King of Israel! Jesus answered him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? 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. Generally speaking, a zealot is anyone who fervently supports a particular cause. Apparently the titles may have been an attempt to distinguish him from the apostle St. Simon Peter. 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. Or did he in fact find a way to straddle the two movements? It includes sections for you to take notes on each episode's plot, your favorite quotes, personal connections, questions, and, of course, Scripture references. If Simon the Zealot had gone through with his attempt to assassinate the Roman leader, his hope would also have been disappointed by the intervention of Atticus, the undercover Roman agent. There are two possible explanations for this. [18] Nikephoros I of Constantinople writes:[18][19]. Simon's background as a Zealot also establishes that he is a serious, disciplined, and *surprise* zealous person. He discovers that Jesse has been healed by Jesus. Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. He was one of the 12 main disciples of Jesus Christ, but he plays no particular role in the gospels and is only mentioned by name in lists of the apostles ( Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:1-13 ). Muslim tradition says that Simon was sent to preach the faith of God to the Berbers, outside North Africa. James the son of Zebedee, so called to distinguish him from another of the apostles of the same name, who was the son of Alphaeus. The Chosen follows this theory and portrays Simon as a Zealot who gives up his violent ways in order to follow Jesus. The word translated "Canaanite" is of Hebrew origin and means "zealot". And the same doctrine he taught to the Occidental Sea, and the Isles called Britanniae. Ethiopian Christians believe he was crucified in Samaria. To begin your time, have your youth read the main passage that this episode of The Chosen is adapting: During the time of the New Testament, it was common for people to believe that certain places like the Pool of Bethesda had miraculous power to bring healing. 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. Click here for my affiliation policy. 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