As The Chosen shifted its attention toward the formation of the church in Season 2, it would have been quite easy for the show to fill up the remaining roster of the disciples with two-dimensional background characters. (14-16) Simon, (whom he also named Peter).--For the list of the Twelve Apostles see Notes on Matthew 10:2.. 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. The Gospels tell us almost nothing about him, but they all list him as one of the twelve disciples. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Eastern tradition claims he died of old age in Edessa. 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). 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. After John was arrested by Herod the Great, Simon joined the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and informed them of John's arrest. Do you remember his name? In any case, the gospel writers used this description to distinguish this Simon from Simon Peterand the other Simons in the New Testament. In his commentary on Matthew, Jerome mistakenly interpreted kananaios as an indicator that Simon was from Cana, which led to other errors: He was surnamed Peter to distinguish him from another Simon who is called the Cananean, from the village of Cana of Galilee, where the Lord turned water into wine.. The Gospels tell us almost nothing about him, but they all list him as one of the twelve disciples. Many think that St. Simon was called the Zealot, before his coming to Christ, because he was one of that particular sect or party among the Jews called Zealots, from a singular zeal they possessed for the honor of God and the purity of religion. 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. Its also unclear whether they were a serious threat, or just convenient scapegoats. 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., Matthew 10:3)]. In Season 2, Episode 5, Simon seeks out Jesus and joins the disciples. A few pseudepigraphical writings were connected to him, but Saint Jerome does not include him in De viris illustribus written between 392 and 393 AD.[4]. 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. By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. They also do not value dying any kinds of death, nor indeed do they heed the deaths of their relations and friends, nor can any such fear make them call any man lord. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Simon was born in Galilee, which was part of Roman-occupied Israel at the time. 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. did julia child have scoliosis; do i look better in jeans or sweats tiktok; did simon the zealot have a brother named jesse. The only biblical references to Simon the Zealot are found in listings of the 12 disciples (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, and Acts 1:13). 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.. After watching The Chosen, have you ever felt inspired to create your own work of Bible Art or biblical adaptation? We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. There are no early church records of Simon the Zealots ministry, so its hard to say where he spread the gospelbut presumably, he did. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! 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. Zeal is behavior motivated by the jealous desire to protect ones self, group, space, or time against violations. The Bible gives us very little information about Simon the Zealot and no information about his family. 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. In some versions of the Bible, Matthew 10:4 and Mark 3:18 (NRSV) both mentioned him as "the Cananaean," while Luke tagged him as "the Zealot" (the Book of John totally left him out). Simon the Zealot (Acts 1:13, Luke 6:15) or Simon the Canaanite or Simon the Canaanean (Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18; Greek: ; Coptic: -; Classical Syriac: )[3] was one of the most obscure among the apostles of Jesus. Were there any scenes that you found interesting or moving? 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. (John 21:1-8, ESV), Nathanael sitting under a fig tree in Season 2 of The Chosen, 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. With a group as large as the twelve + disciples, however, the gifts and personality of each character needs to be more specialized. The apostle Simon, called Simon the Zealot in Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13; and Simon Kananaios ("Simon" signifying "hearkening; listening", Standard Hebrew imon, Tiberian Hebrew imn ), was one of the most obscure among the apostles of Jesus; little is recorded of him aside from his name. Simon then leaves for training. So far, there are no obvious figures in Scripture that correspond to Atticus Aemilius. In Acts, a man known as Simon the Sorceror attempted to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from Peter (Acts 8:9-24). Simon was known for being (or once having been) a Zealot. He died after being crucified in Jerusalem during the First Revolt against Rome (also known as the Great Revolt). Whether called Simon the Canaanite or Simon the Zealot, some theories suggest his nickname may have stuck simply as a way to distinguish him from Simon Peter. Although its worth noting, in the Talmud, Jewish rabbis advocated for peace as well, and the Zealots ignored them. Some of these Pharisees witnessed the healing of Jesse and saw how Jesus told him to get up and take his mat and walk. In the biblical tradition, human acts of zeal punished idolatrous violations of Gods right to exclusive allegiance from Israel. Simon is remembered (with Jude) in the Church of England with a Festival on 28 October. 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). What has Jesse the Invalid put his hope in to bring salvation? 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. Simon son of Zebulon was born in Ashkelona. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Like Nathanael, Simon the Zealot's skills and personality are tied to his past vocation. I want the youth to enjoy it and not just see The Chosen as an elaborate preaching illustration. There are nine people named Simon in the New Testament. The Bible does not tell us anything about Simon the Zealot before he met Jesus. Simon the Zealot's greatest vice is also tied to his longings and his gifts. It includes sections for you to take notes on each episode's plot, your favorite quotes, personal connections, questions, and, of course, Scripture references. Invalids - people with debilitating sicknesses, injuries, or birth defects - would often congregate around these miraculous places like Bethesda in hopes of having their sicknesses healed. Older adaptations of the Gospels tended to depict Simon the Zealot and Nathanael in this way, if they depicted them at all. Bartholomew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus (e.g., Matthew 10:3). Cornelius a Lapide, Argumentus Epistoloe St. Pauli di Romanos, ch. 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. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. 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 ). [21], In art, Simon has the identifying attribute of a saw because he was traditionally martyred by being sawn in half. Why do you think Jesus asked him that question? The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. 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. Although there are various versions of his death, it is likely he served with zeal as a missionary in Persia and eventually died a martyr's death. As a former assassin, he is the most physically formidable of the disciples. 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). Berean Literal Bible In the cultural context of the time, the idea of a stairway between heaven and earth would have evoked the image of a Babylonian ziggurat - one of the architectural wonders of the ancient world. Nathanael's prologue establishes his aspiration to be a great architect. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nathanael was an architect. So The Chosen has made Nathanael an architect in order to make this image of Jesus as a stairway/ziggurat particularly relevant to his character. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. When Simon joins the Zealots, we understand that he is being driven by his longing for justice. Menu. Alaa Safi as Simon Z.: a former Zealot, the brother of Jesse who was the paralytic at Bethesda, and one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. 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). Weaknesses prevent characters from appearing over-powered and instead provide a hook that helps connect them to viewers. What do you think we're supposed to conclude? 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. In the context of the New Testament, the Zealots were a party zealous for Jewish independence and throwing off Roman rule. Related Truth: At the time when he was healed, he had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. The word, "Zealot" is a title driven from the Hebrew word qanai, meaning zealous. [18] Nikephoros I of Constantinople writes:[18][19]. When Peter had his vision of unclean food, he was staying at Simon the Tanners house (Acts 9:43). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. Christian Ethiopians claim that he was crucified in Samaria, while Justus Lipsius writes that he was sawn in half at Suanir, Persia. During the public premiere of The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4, Dallas Jenkins said it was the most complex and challenging episode of The Chosen to film, and it sure does show. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is reunited with his brother, Jesse, after years of separation. 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. In a smaller ensemble, it's common for character abilities to fall into basic archetypal patterns like the power trio (the logical brain, the emotional friend, and the balanced hero) or the five-man band (the charismatic leader, the edgy anti-hero, the brain, the tank, and the token girl). He was the author of two books in the Bible, namely 1st Peter and 2nd Peter. Another tradition, doubtless inspired by his title "the Zealot", states that he was involved in the First JewishRoman War (6673 AD).[7][8]. 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 (. Jesse initially hopes that the Pool of Bethesda will save him from his injury but ends up disappointed. 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. We can't know for sure, but it's hard to imagine that someone could follow the peaceful way of Jesus and still participate in a violent insurrection. 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 . What emotions do you imagine you'd feel? I was half-right. In order to explain why, in the Gospel of John, the invalid tells Jesus that he has no one to put him in the water, this episode of The Chosen depicted him as having a brother who abandoned him in order to pursue life as a Jewish Zealot. The mention ends with the phrase "this is Simon the Cananite, of whom mention is made in the Gospel. 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. The Bible does not give us his name or mention anyone to whom he was related. Generally speaking, a zealot is anyone who fervently supports a particular cause. The first is that we simply haven't gotten to that point in the story. Two of them are among Jesus Twelve ApostlesSimon the Zealot and Simon Peter. [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. Which disciples seem to be the potential leaders of the group? 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? . By engaging with Scripture creatively, you'll allow your imagination to be unconsciously shaped and formed by the images, metaphors, and patterns of the biblical story. St. Simon the Zealot's (Simon Kananaios) cave in Abkhazia, Georgia, The Apostle Simon the Zealot by Georg Gsell, Simon Zelotes evangelische Kirche Leihgestern. As an apostle of Jesus Christ, Simon the Zealot would have been sent somewhere to spread the gospel, just as the other apostles were. There's no evidence to suggest Nathanael was a failed architect. Community formation does take precedence over the individual encounters in Season 2 of The Chosen, but individual encounters continue to be a source of great interest for the show. Jessie pleads with his brother not to complete a Zealot mission to kill a Roman . "[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 Islam, Muslim exegesis and Quran commentary name the twelve apostles and include Simon amongst the disciples. 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. TBA as young Simon Z. Instead, Jesus shows up and provides him with a new and unexpected way to fulfill his longing, by contributing to the construction of God's spiritual temple, the church. I only know of one person called Peter in the Bible, but there are several guys named Simon in the Bible. Simeon is sometimes identified with Simon, brother of Jesus, and has also been identified with the Apostle Simon the Zealot . Nevertheless, what John gives us about Nathanael is much more substantial and evocative than what we get concerning Simon. Is Simon a disciple of Jesus? After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. The appearances of Nathanael (in John 1 and John 21) function as a kind of framing device for John's Gospel. [9] Another tradition holds that this is the Simeon of Jerusalem who became the second bishop of Jerusalem, although he was born in Galilee. by Ryan Nelson | Aug 7, 2019 | Bible characters. Jesus then simply tells him to get up and walk and he's healed. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We can connect Rufus with Rome because of Paul's letter to the Romans many years later. Heres how Josephus described the Fourth Philosophy which became known as the Zealots: These men agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? Since Simon is commonly identified with the Jewish sect known as the Zealots, its worth unpacking who they were. Regardless of why this line was included, we know nothing else about the angel described - if he even existed. It was most likely an underground hot spring. You are the King of Israel! Jesus answered him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? Why was he mad at Jesus? 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. According to an Eastern tradition Simon travelled to Georgia on a missionary trip, died in Abkhazia and was buried in Nicopsia. And the same doctrine he taught to the Occidental Sea, and the Isles called Britanniae. Because Season 2 of The Chosen is more focused on the drama of the budding Jesus community, however, the pre-Jesus backstories of its major new characters (Nathanael, Simon the Zealot, and Judas) have to be condensed and delivered in the episode prologues. PETA, Greenpeace, and NOW might all be considered organizations that are filled with zealots. The Bible itself never explains Simon's relationship to the Zealot movement. 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 belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Zealots, who were bent on revolution and looking for a Messiah to violently overthrow Rome. Bartholomew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus (e.g.. Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 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. A party called Zealots were famous in the war of the Jews against the Romans. 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. In what ways do these hopes end up disappointing us? In the Bible there is no indication that Simon the Zealot was related to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. Such details are often quite instructive though if we pause and consider how they function. That said, this is an adaptation and that means it's their telling of these stories, so I won't be too bummed if they've taken reworked this relatively minor story. (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. But the group known as the Zealots may not have existed at the time the gospels took placepossibly not even when they were written. 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. There's also a separate area for you to draw and take notes on your favorite biblical characters. 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. In a smaller ensemble, it's common for character abilities to fall into basic archetypal patterns like. The sketchiness of the invalid is further highlighted by how his healing in John 5 is closely mirrored by the healing of the man born blind in. Why do you think The Chosen made Simon the Zealot and Jesse the Invalid brothers? Since the story of The Chosen has grown increasingly complex in Season 2, it's a good idea to regularly review some relevant information from previous episodes (especially since there's not a regular "previously on The Chosen" segment). 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. Click here for my affiliation policy. (NIV) Acts 1:13 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 watch this season with your group, you'll need to pick up The Chosen app (, 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.