Who were the Zealots?
The zealots were a political group of radicalized Jews during the time of Christ until the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. They were the remnant of the followers of Judas the Galilean, who promoted an uprising in response to Cyrenius’s census for taxes in AD 6. As the time approached the middle of the first century the zealots became increasingly violent in their protests. This was mainly due to tribute taxes and the newer requirement that all under Roman rule must recognize the ruler of the Roman Empire as the “Master and Lord of mortal man.” Understandably, this did not resonate well with their Jewish beliefs and pushed them to become increasingly violent.
Religious Beliefs
The zealots had extreme loyalty to their Jewish traditions and rejected anything that was Greek or Roman in culture. As a result of this, they strongly opposed the use of the Greek language in Palestine, some even going as far as punishing their children if they spoke the language at home. Their doctrinal beliefs were very similar to that of the Pharisees, meaning they emphasized the following of the Law and accepted the existence of a spiritual world. Because of their ongoing confrontation with Rome, the zealots believed that they were nearing the last days and that Messiah would come to free them from Roman rule. This perspective was common among Jewish people, including the twelve disciples.