Simon Zelotes and his Brother Judas Thaddeus, in the Year 70

Simon the Canaanite, surnamed Zelotes, that is, Zealot, the son of Alpheus, the brother of James, Joses, and Juda, and a relative of Christ, was appointed by Christ one of His twelve apostles, to preach the Gospel, first among the Jews and afterwards among the heathen; and to that end he, together with the others who shared the same ministry with him, received the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. Matthew 10, verse 4; Acts 1, verse 13; Matthew 13, verse 55; Mark 6, verse 3.

He traveled in Egypt, Cyrene, Africa, Mauritania, throughout Lybia, and in the islands of Great Britain, where he preached the Gospel. Isid. de Vita et Mort. 5, 5. Niceph., book 2, chapter 40. [n119-1]

Afterwards, having preached everywhere, writes N. D. C., he came to the Western Sea, and also into England and the places neighboring them.

Finally, others state, he went to Persia, where he found his brother Judas. Continuing together steadfastly in the duties of their apostleship, they sealed the divine truth with their blood.

Concerning Simon Zelotes in particular, it is stated that he was crucified in a very painful way by a certain governor in Syria. Bybelsch Naemboeck, letter S, on the name Simon, folio 570, column 1, from Eus. and Niceph., and Hist. Andrcp, folio 18, Konst tooneel van veertig, in the life of Simon Zelotes. [n119-2]

As for his brother Judas, surnamed Lebbeus, and also Thaddeus, who was likewise an apostle of Jesus Christ, nothing is said of him in the history of the Gospels; there is only mention of a question which he asked the Lord Jesus, saying, Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world? Matthew 10, verse 3; Mark 3, verse 18; John 14, verse 22.

It was this apostle who also wrote a comforting letter to the believers, in which he urges them to remain steadfast in the faith they had once received, and threatens the unbelievers with the severe judgment of God.

In accordance with the division of the world which the apostles made for the preaching of the Gospel, he traveled in Mesopotamia, Syria, Arabia, and as far as Edessa. Finally, having gone to Persia, he reproved and opposed the pagan idolatry there; and for this he was beaten to death by the idolatrous priests, who were losing their gain. Isidor. and Niceph., Sabell. Enece. 7, book 14. Bybelsch Naemboeck, letter I, on the name of Judas Thaddeus, folio 535. [n119-3] Konst tooneel, and so on, in the life of Judas Thaddeus, or Lebbeus.

Simon the Canaanite, or Zelotes, who was a son of Alpheus, is not distinguished by some from Simon the bishop at Jerusalem, who was a son of Cleophas; and from this has come the error that Simon Zelotes is said to have been killed in the year 108 (see Byb. Naemb., folio 870, column 1), which properly is to be understood of Simon, the bishop at Jerusalem, the son of Cleophas; for Simon Zelotes and his brother Judas Thaddeus, according to testimony, were killed toward the close of the persecution by Nero, or about the year 70. [n119-4]