To distinguish him from Simon Peter he is called Kananaios or Kananites, depending on the manuscript (Matthew 10:4 Mark 3:18), and in the list of apostles in Luke 6:15, repeated in Acts 1:13, Zelotes, the "Zealot". Fortunately, creating sympathetic and believable backstories for under-developed biblical characters is what The Chosen does best. That being said, the show hasn't created Nathanael's vocation out of whole clothe. 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. Barbara Thiering identified Simon Zelotes with Simon Magus; however, this view has received no serious acceptance. Why do you think The Chosen made Simon the Zealot and Jesse the Invalid brothers? 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. This is he of whose death we read, Acts 12:2; he was slain by Herod. Again, I doubt that Simon the Zealot will be as central to The Chosen as Mary Magdalene or Matthew, but by establishing these key traits in his initial appearances, the show ensures that he can play a role and be recognized by audiences, even when he isn't driving the plot of the show. We know almost nothing about Simon the Zealot. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Remember that, during the time of the New Testament, the land of Israel was occupied by the Roman Empire, which had conquered it several decades earlier. Join our email list, and well send you some of our best free resourcesplus well tell you whenever we make something new. By making Nathanael an architect, The Chosen has assigned his character a unique (albeit rarely needed) skill (building/design). While watching The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4, I make occasional comments through the chat but I try to not do too much teaching. 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. Cornelius a Lapide, Argumentus Epistoloe St. Pauli di Romanos, ch. A note is Jesse's last reminder of his brother. People often complain when a biblical adaptation adds to what the Bible says. Western tradition is that he preached in Egypt and then went to Persia with St. Jude, where both suffered martyrdom. 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. This is what drives him to become so disciplined and formidable - because instead of handing his anger over to God, he's sought to turn himself into a destructive force who can take justice into his own hands. Mifflintown, PA 17059. This draws our attention to something significant about the way The Chosen is adapting the figures of Simon the Zealot and Nathanael. (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. Simon was surnamed the Zealot for his rigid adherence to the Jewish law and to the Canaanite law. 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 (1 Kings 4:25). It also makes it clear that Nathanael continued to be a disciple of Jesus into the resurrection period. In this account, in his second mission to Britain, he arrived during the first year of Boadicea's rebellion (60 AD). This site uses cookies to analyze traffic and ensure you get the best experience. After seeing his brother healed by Jesus, do you think he will continue to hope in violence to bring salvation? What aspects of these characters stuck out to you? These cookies do not store any personal information. Because Gods holiness will not tolerate idolatry or other violations against the covenant (Exod 20:5; Deut 5:9), God will punish the whole nation for such offenses unless someone acts on behalf of Godzealous with Gods jealous angerto kill or root out the offenders.. [18] Nikephoros I of Constantinople writes:[18][19]. p. chloe johnson peter buck wedding; le mal en elle fin du film The most widespread tradition is that after evangelizing in Egypt, Simon joined Jude in Persia and Armenia or Beirut, Lebanon, where both were martyred in 65 AD. I was half-right. Only the first person to reach the stirring waters was healed. something. Its unclear when the group formally became known as the Zealots. by Ryan Nelson | Aug 7, 2019 | Bible characters. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? Hes never mentioned in the Gospel of John, but John never explicitly lists all the apostles.This means Simon was one of the people who was closest to Jesus, and that he spent about three years living with him, witnessing his miracles, and hearing his teachings. Who was he? 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. By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. 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. The Zealots were a group of Jews who believed that God had called them to overthrow the Roman Empire through physical force. Apparently the titles may have been an attempt to distinguish him from the apostle St. Simon Peter. Josephus fought against the Romans in the First Jewish-Roman War. Today we'll be exploring what the Bible says about Simon and Nathanael and how The Chosen adapts them to the screen. What do you think he meant by it? In any case, the gospel writers used this description to distinguish this Simon from Simon Peterand the other Simons in the New Testament. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. To some readers, this suggests that he may be identical with the "Judas not Iscariot" mentioned in John 14:22: "Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Our Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" That's why I'm excited to share with you a new resource that I've created to help you study biblical adaptations & reflect on how they apply to everyday life. The Bible tells us only a couple things about the man that Jesus healed at the Pool of Bethesda: He went to the pool in order to be healed by its reported power. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Is Simon a disciple of Jesus? 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. While there may only be one path that saves us, that path can be entered through a variety doorways. 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. 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. 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. 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 . Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? [citation needed]. 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 Islam, Muslim exegesis and Quran commentary name the twelve apostles and include Simon amongst the disciples. 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. Simon's background as a Zealot also establishes that he is a serious, disciplined, and *surprise* zealous person. 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 Episode 6 of The Chosen Season 1, Jesus faced opposition from a Pharisee in Capnernaum. Such details are often quite instructive though if we pause and consider how they function. [22], "St. Simon" redirects here. The Bible does not tell us anything about Simon the Zealot before he met Jesus. [13] Tradition also claims he died peacefully at Edessa. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. . Judas was apparently killed as a result of his actions.. New Living Translation Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Jessie pleads with his brother not to complete a Zealot mission to kill a Roman . Simon the Zealot. How do you think the show will influence the way you read biblical stories about them going forward? Simon the Leper hosts Jesus for dinner in Bethany (Mark 14:3). The Pool of Bethesda was specifically known to heal people only at a specific time - when the waters had been stirred up. 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. At the time when he was healed, he had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. [21], In art, Simon has the identifying attribute of a saw because he was traditionally martyred by being sawn in half. The Chosen introduces Simon the Zealot and Nathanael (as well as Judas) in similar ways, using teaser segments/prologues. Indeed, for most viewers, the ability to relate to the characters on a show is paramount. Simon the Zealot is saying a blessing which is a common blessing said in the morning. We can connect Rufus with Rome because of Paul's letter to the Romans many years later. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is reunited with his brother, Jesse, after years of separation. In Episode 2 of The Chosen Season 2, Jesus encountered a man who had his career crumble all around him. Hosts Jesus for dinner in Bethany ( Mark 14:3 ) Simons in the Jewish-Roman... Many years later background as a Zealot also establishes that he is a common blessing said in the.! 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