Death of Simon the Zealot in the New Testament

The New Testament provides no record of the death of Simon the Zealot ^[3]. He is mentioned in the Gospels as one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus ^{[1, 5]}. His designation "the Zealot" (or "Cananaean" in some translations) indicates his affiliation with the Zealot movement prior to his apostleship ^{[3, 10]}. This group consisted of militant Jews who believed that violence and warfare could achieve God's will and were zealous for the law ^{[10, 13]}. Josephus, a first-century historian, attributed the war with Rome in A.D. 66–70 to the Zealot party ^[13].

Simon the Zealot is distinct from other New Testament figures named Simon, such as Simon Peter ^[14], Simon the brother of Jesus ^{[2, 6]}, Simon the father of Judas Iscariot ^[4], and Simon Magus ^{[7, 8, 9]}. The biblical texts list him among the apostles in Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, and Acts 1:13 ^{[1, 3, 5]}. Beyond his inclusion in these lists and his identifying epithet, the New Testament offers no further details about his life or ministry, nor does it describe the circumstances of his death ^[3].

Early Christian traditions and apocryphal writings, such as the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, discuss the deaths of various biblical figures, but these do not specifically detail the death of Simon the Zealot ^{[11, 12, 15]}. The focus of such texts often lies on moral instruction or the fate of other prominent figures. Therefore, any claims regarding his death are based on later traditions outside the biblical canon.

Sources

Matthew “Matthew 10:4 (NASB) — Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Simon — (contracted form of Simeon, a hearing). + Son of Mattathias. [[1145]Maccabees] + Son of Onias the high priest, whose eulogy closes the "praise of famous men" in the book of Ecclesiasticus, ch. 4. (B.C. 302-293.) + A "governor of the temple" in the time of Seleucus Philopator, whose information as to the treasures of the temple led to the sacrilegious attach of Heliordorus. 2 Macc. 3:4, etc. (B.C. 175.) + Simon the brother of Jesus. The only undoubted notice of this Simon occurs in (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3) He has been identified by some writers with Simon the ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Simon — The abbreviated form of Simeon. (1.) One of the twelve apostles, called the Canaanite (Matt. 10:4; Mark 3:18). This word "Canaanite" does not mean a native of Canaan, but is derived from the Syriac word Kanean or Kaneniah, which was the name of a Jewish sect. The Revised Version has "Cananaean;" marg., "or Zealot" He is also called "Zelotes" (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13; R.V., "the Zealot"), because previous to his call to the apostleship he had been a member of the fanatical sect of the Zealots. There is no record regarding him. (2.) The father of Judas Iscariot (J”
STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=G4613L — Man living at the time of the New Testament (refs: #A man living at the time of the New Testament, first mentioned at Jhn.6.71; <br>only referred to as)”
Luke “Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot; -- Luke 6:15”
STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=G4613H — Man living at the time of the New Testament (refs: #A man from the tribe of Judah living at the time of the New Testament, first mentioned at Mat.13.55)”
STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=G4613N — Man living at the time of the New Testament (refs: #A man living at the time of the New Testament, first mentioned at Act.8.13; <br>only referred to as)”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — CHAP. XV.--SIMON'S DISCIPLES ADOPT THE MYSTERIES; SIMON MEETS ST. PETER AT ROME; ACCOUNT OF SIMON'S CLOSING YEARS.: The disciples, then, of this (Magus), celebrate magical rites, and resort to incantations. And 81 (they profess to) transmit both love-spells and charms, and the demons said to be senders of dreams, for the purpose of distracting whomsoever they please. But they also employ those denominated Paredroi. "And they have an image of Simon (fashioned) into the figure of Jupiter, and (an image) of Helen in the form of Minerva; and they p”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — CHAP. VIII.--SIMON MAGUS: HIS HISTORY.: "For after that John the Baptist was killed, as you yourself also know, when Dositheus had broached his heresy,[1] with thirty other chief disciples, and one woman, who was called Luna[2]--whence also these thirty appear to have been appointed with reference to the number of the days, according to the course of the moon--this Simon ambitious of evil glory, as we have said, goes to Dositheus, and pretending friendship, entreats him, that if any one of those thirty should die, he shou”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 6:15: 6:15 The diversity of Jesus’ apostles is striking. • Matthew, also called Levi, was the tax collector for the Romans (see 5:27; Matt 9:9; 10:3). • Simon (who was called the zealot): Zealot probably meant that he had joined the Zealot movement, a group of Jews actively seeking to overthrow the Roman government.”
Introduction “Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, Introduction, section 5: destruction of Beliar and an eternal reproach. For in fornication 5 there is neither understanding nor godliness, and all jealousy dwelleth in the lust thereof. Therefore, then I say unto you, ye will be jealous against the sons of Levi, and will seek to be exalted 6 over them; but ye shall not be able. For God will avenge them, and ye shall die by an evil death. 7 For to Levi God gave the sovereignty [and to Judah with him and to me also, and to Dan and 8 Joseph, that we should be for rulers]. Therefore I command you to hearken to L”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — II.--THE TESTAMENT OF SIMEON CONCERNING ENVY. (part 4): men. 7. And now, my children, obey Levi, and in Judah shall ye be redeemed:[7] and be not lifted up against these two tribes, for from them shall arise to you the salvation of God. For the Lord shall raise up from Levi as it were a Priest,[8] and from Judah as it were a King, God and man.[5] So shall He save all the Gentiles and the race of Israel. Therefore I command you all things, in order that ye also may command your children, that they may observe them througho”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 10:4: 10:4 the zealot: Zealots were militant Jews who thought violence and war were capable of accomplishing the will of God. As a Jewish nationalist, Simon was probably zealous for the law (Acts 22:3-5; Gal 1:14; Phil 3:6). Josephus blamed the Zealot party for the great war with Rome in AD 66–70. • Iscariot might refer to someone from Kerioth in southern Judea (Josh 15:25) or from Kerioth in Perea (Jer 48:24).”
John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 1:40: 1:40-42 Simon is well known in the Gospels, not for his courage and faith, but for his failings (see 18:15-18, 25-27). Jesus named him Cephas (“the rock”), referring to the great church leader he would later become (see Acts 1:1–5:42; 8:1–12:25; 15:1-41).”
Introduction “Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, Introduction, section 9: Gentiles 3 and] the race of Israel. Therefore I give you these commands that ye also may command your children that they may observe them throughout their generations. 8 1 And when Simeon had made an end of commanding his sons, he slept with his fathers, being an 2 hundred and twenty years old. And they laid him in a wooden coffin, to take up his bones to 3 Hebron. And they took them up secretly during a war of the Egyptians. For the bones of Joseph 4 the Egyptians guarded in the tombs of the kings. For the sorcerers told them; that ”

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