These are the names of the twelve [Jesus] designated as apostles: ... Simon, who was called a Zealot.

— The Story of Jesus 9.1

[adapted from Luke 6:15]

During the Roman occupation of Judea, a group of Jewish rebels sought to expel the Romans from their homeland. Their name – the Zealots – reflected their fierce patriotism for the Jewish nation. Zealots were some of the earliest terrorists on record, regularly murdering Romans and Greeks who were living in Judea. They also targeted other Jews thought to be in league with Rome, such as Sadducees, or those who openly opposed violence against Rome. Zealots had a bleak reputation in Judea for being ruffians. They used violent revolts to undermine Roman rule. 

In 66 AD, Zealots led a rebellion and succeeded in taking control of Jerusalem, triggering the Roman-Jewish War. However, their success was short-lived: Rome recaptured the city in 70 AD and destroyed the Temple. Shortly thereafter, the Roman army attacked the Zealot stronghold of Masada in 73 AD, prompting the Zealots to commit mass suicide, effectively ending the movement. 

Barabbas is nonspecifically called a stasiastes (“insurrectionist,” “rebel,” “rioter”), which may have referred to his being a Zealot. One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon, was a former Zealot.

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