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]

A notorious prisoner named Barabbas had been arrested and thrown into prison with rebels who had murdered during a rebellion in the city. He was also a thief.

— The Story of Jesus 33.5

[adapted from Mk 15:7; Lk 23:19; Jn 18:40]

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, attacking Romans and Greeks who were living in Judea. They also targeted 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, using violence to undermine Roman rule. 

Like Zealots, Sicarii were a group of Jewish rebels who were opposed to Roman rule. The name is derived from sica, a curved blade that could be concealed under clothing. Many of the politically motivated murders against Romans and their allies were committed by these “dagger men”. Public gatherings allowed for a quick escape as Sicarii blended into the crowds after dispatching their victim.  

The relationship between Zealots and Sicarii isn't clear. One may have been a sect of the otherThe political aspirations of Zealots and Sicarii were essentially the same, and they shared similarly violent methods, but leadership struggles among anti-Roman rebels likely led to splinter groups forming and dissolving under various names.

The relationship between Zealots and Sicarii isn’t clear – one could have been a sect of the other, so members could potentially belong to both groups. In 66 AD, the Zealots, along with the Sicarii and other rebel groups, led a revolt against Rome and successfully took control of Jerusalem, triggering the First 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 surviving rebels to commit mass suicide. After their defeat, Zealots and Sicarii soon disappeared from historical records. 

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

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