The Apostolic Age · AD 4–70
Simon the Zealot
d. c. 65 or later (trads. diverge) · Apostle of the Twelve · Galilee → Persia (trad.)
The Apostolic Age
Who Simon the Zealot was
Called “the Canaanite” in Mark from the Aramaic qan’ana, “the zealous one” — whether for party or for temperament — and “Zelotes” in Luke. Beyond the lists the New Testament is silent. The dominant eastern tradition sends him with Jude Thaddaeus to Persia, where both are martyred (the pairing behind the shared western feast); a divergent strand sends him to Egypt and even Britain. His profile is the Twelve’s anonymity at its purest: a revolutionary’s name, an apostle’s office, no recorded word.
Common questions
When did Simon die?
Simon the Zealot is dated d. c. 65 or later (trads. diverge) in the archive, which places Simon in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Simon?
Simon the Zealot is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Matthew the Evangelist, Luke and The Hieronymian compilers. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Simon from?
The archive associates Simon the Zealot with Galilee, Persia (trad.). The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Simon’s contemporaries?
The archive links Simon the Zealot to 2 other figures, including Judas son of James (Thaddaeus) and James, son of Alphaeus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Matthew 10:4
c. AD 50Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.Matthew the Evangelist · read ↗
Luke 6:15
c. AD 85Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes…Luke · read ↗
Martyrologium Hieronymianum (feast of Simon, with Jude)
c. AD 450Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
Place
Places served
The 11 places the sources put Simon, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route. 10 stops are marked with the company: the source places this figure’s company there rather than naming the figure at it.
- 1GalileeWith him through the towns of Galileewith the companyMark 1:39; Matthew 4:23
- 2NazarethCame into his own country, and his disciples followed himwith the companyMark 6:1
- 3CapernaumThe house at Capernaum, where he taught the Twelvewith the companyMark 9:33
- 4BethsaidaWithdrew there with the Twelve; the five thousand fedwith the companyLuke 9:10
- 5TyreWithdrew into its borders; the disciples came to himwith the companyMark 7:24; Matthew 15:23
- 6SidonReturned by Sidon to the sea of Galileewith the companyMark 7:31
- 7Caesarea PhilippiOn the road he asked the disciples who men said he waswith the companyMark 8:27
- 8JerichoWent out of Jericho with his discipleswith the companyMark 10:46
- 9BethanyLodged there with the Twelve through Passion weekwith the companyMark 11:11–12
- 10JerusalemEntered the temple with the Twelve; the upper roomwith the companyMark 11:11; 14:17
- 11Sasanian PersiaBy the tradition of his later missionTraditional; see the profile