{Jewish Sects and Orders}

THE ZEALOTS.
Josephus describes the Zealots as the fourth of the philosophical sects among the Jews. Their "philosophy," however, consisted in their resolute denial of the right of any foreign power to rule over God's heritage, and their readiness to suffer martyrdom, if necessary, in support of their convictions. They represented the extreme of Pharisaism politically as the Essenes did religiously. Judas of Galilee is said by Josephus to have been the founder of the Zealots. Simon, one of the apostles, is called the Zealot (Luke 6:15), probably because he belonged to this sect. The Zealots maintained the Mosaic law with fanatical strictness, and resisted, not always passively, every attempt to enforce foreign usages upon the people. Hence arose constant outbreaks, of which Galilee was preeminently the scene. It is often stated that "Zealot" and "Galilean" were interchangeable terms, but this is hardly accurate. See THE GALILEANS.