# Simon Zelotes And His Brother Judas Thaddeus, Both Slain For The Truth Of Christ; The One Crucified, And The Other Beaten To Death With Sticks, About A. D. 70.

c. 70 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: SIMON ZELOTES AND HIS BROTHER JUDAS THADDEUS, BOTH SLAIN FOR THE TRUTH OF CHRIST; THE ONE CRUCIFIED, AND THE OTHER BEATEN TO DEATH WITH STICKS, ABOUT A. D. 70.

Source heading; not independently verified

MARTYRDOM OF SIMON ZELOTES, AND JUDAS THADDEUS.

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 constituted
by Christ one of his twelve apostles, to
preach the Gospel, first among the Jews, and afterwards
among the heathen; to which end he, together
with the others who were in like ministry
with him, received the Holy Ghost on the day of
Pentecost. Matt. 10:4; Acts 1:13; Matt. 13:55;
Mark 6:3.

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., lib. 2, cap. 40.

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

Finally, it is stated by others, 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 Næmbœck,
letter S. on the name Simon, fol. 570, col. 1, from
Eus. and Niceph., and Hist. Andræ, fol. 18, Konst-tooneel
van veertig, in the life of Simon Zelotes.

As regards his brother Judas, surnamed Lebbeus,
and also, Thaddeus, who was likewise an apostle of
Jesus Christ, nothing is said of him in Evangelical
history; only there is mention made of a question
which he asked the Lord Jesus, saying, Lord, how
is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not
unto the world? Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; John 14:22.

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

90

In accordance with the division of the world made
by the apostles for the preaching of the Gospel, he
traveled in Mesopotamia, Syria, Arabia, and as far
as Edessa. Finally, having gone to Persia, he
there reproved and opposed the pagan idolatry; on
which account he was beaten to death by the idolatrous
priests, who were losing their gain. Isidor.
and Niceph., Sabell. Eneæ. 7, lib. 14. Bybelsch
Næmbœck, letter I., on the name of Judas Thaddeus,
fol. 595. Konst-tooneel, etc., 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; hence has originated the error that Simon
Zelotes is said to have been killed A. D. 108
(see Byb. Næmb., fol. 870, col. 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 towards the close of the persecution
by Nero, or about A. D. 70.

![Illustration from Martyrs’ Mirror](/sources/martyrs-mirror/images/i0184.jpg)



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