WHO WERE THEY?

The Zealots

In Luke chapter six, verse fifteen, one of our Lord's disciples is referred to as "Simon the Zealot", which seems to distinguish him as a member of the "Zealot" party which was active in Israel up until about A. D. 73. The Zealots were a strongly nationalistic group that was founded by Judas the Galilean in A. D. 6 when they revolted against Rome over the payment of tribute money to a pagan Emperor. These "zealous" Israelites interpreted this payment as treason against God who was the one and only true King of Israel.

They seem to have taken their name from following the example of Phineas, who, we are told in Numbers 25 verse 11, "was ZEALOUS for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel". As Phineas displayed zeal at that time of their national apostasy, so the Zealots would follow his example now that Israel was pressed under by the heal of Imperial Rome. It is unlikely that Simon would have remained a true Zealot after his conversion to Christ as the Zealot policy was to overthrow the Roman rule even through bloodshed, a policy which finds no place in Christ's teaching. There are references to Zealot activities in such scriptures as Acts 21 verse 38, where Paul is questioned whether or not he is "that Egyptian which … led out four thousand men that were murderers (Assassins)?" This group of Zealots got their name from the fact that they armed themselves with concealed daggers for the "assassination" of Israel's enemies.


The Nazarites

An Old Testament party of "separatists" who concentrated themselves to the Lord by the taking of certain vows. The name means to "separate" or "consecrate", or may mean "the crown of God", which would probably refer to the Nazarite's uncut hair which was one of the vows. The Nazarites were also called to abstain from strong drink and were prohibited from coming into contact with a dead body. When any of these prohibitions was violated the Nazarite was called to reconsecration. At the end of the period of service to Jehovah - this could be a week, or a month, or a year, or a life - the Nazarite went into the temple and cut off his hair and burned it.

One of the most outstanding Nazarites was, of course, Samson. As he had been "separated" for life, the shaving of his hair when he had fallen to the wiles of Delilah constituted a broken vow and thus resulted in the Lord's Spirit being removed from him.

There are a few later references in the Acts of the Apostles to men taking a vow similar to the Nazarite. Paul, in Acts 21 verse 23, performs this act for four men, and in Chapter 18 verse 18, shaves his own head "for he had a vow".

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This Page Title – Who were they? The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 46 – placed on line January 2004 Wicket Gate contact address – Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@wicketgate.co.uk If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk Labelled with ICRA