Zealots

The Zealots were a Jewish political-religious movement that originated with Judas the Galilean (or Gaulonite), who led a revolt against the Roman census of 6 AD (Acts 5:37; Josephus, Antiquities 18.1). Their core principle was that paying tribute to Rome violated the exclusive kingship of God over Israel. Josephus describes them as a fourth sect alongside the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes — sharing the Pharisees' theology but adding a radical political program. They refused submission to any earthly ruler and advocated violent resistance to Roman occupation.

The Zealot movement intensified through the first century and was a major force in the Jewish revolt of 66–70 AD, including the defense of Jerusalem against Vespasian and Titus. Their armed wing, the Sicarii (from Latin sica, dagger), carried concealed daggers and assassinated collaborators. Simon the Zealot, one of the twelve apostles (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13), was apparently associated with or named after this movement, though Jesus's choice of both a Zealot and a tax-collector (Matthew) among his disciples is theologically significant — the kingdom transcending the political divisions of the day.