The term "Cananaean" is used in the New Testament to describe one of Jesus' twelve apostles, Simon the Cananaean. This designation appears in the Gospel accounts of Matthew and Mark. In Matthew 10:4 , the apostle is listed as "Simon the Cananaean," and similarly in Mark 3:18 , he is referred to as "Simon the Cananaean." The term "Cananaean" is often understood to be synonymous with "Zealot," as seen in Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13 , where Simon is called "Simon the Zealot."

The word "Cananaean" is derived from the Aramaic word "qan'ānā," which means "zealous" or "enthusiast." This has led many scholars and theologians to associate Simon with the Zealots, a Jewish political movement in the first century that sought to overthrow Roman rule in Judea. The Zealots were known for their fervent nationalism and their willingness to use violence to achieve their goals. However, the New Testament does not provide explicit details about Simon's activities or beliefs prior to his calling as an apostle.

Simon the Cananaean's inclusion among the apostles highlights the diverse backgrounds of Jesus' followers. The group included fishermen, a tax collector, and others from various walks of life, reflecting the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry. Simon's zeal, once potentially directed towards political ends, was redirected towards the proclamation of the Gospel and the establishment of the early Church.

The presence of a former Zealot among the apostles underscores the transformative power of Jesus' message. It suggests that the Kingdom of God transcends earthly political movements and calls individuals to a higher allegiance. Simon's life, like that of the other apostles, was ultimately dedicated to spreading the teachings of Christ, even at the cost of personal sacrifice.

While the New Testament does not provide further details about Simon's life or ministry after Pentecost, church tradition holds that he continued to preach the Gospel and may have traveled as far as Persia. Various traditions also suggest that he was martyred for his faith, although the specifics of his death remain uncertain.

In summary, Simon the Cananaean, also known as Simon the Zealot, represents the diverse and transformative nature of Jesus' call to discipleship. His life serves as a testament to the power of the Gospel to unite individuals from different backgrounds in the common mission of advancing God's Kingdom.Cananaean

(Matthew 10:4) Used in the Revised Version in place of "Canaanite." [See CANAANITE, THE]

CANANAEAN; CANAANITE

ka-na-ne'-an, ka'-nan-it.

See SIMON; CANANAEAN.

SIMON THE CANAANITE; SIMON THE CANANAEAN; SIMON THE ZEALOT

(Simon Kananaios; kanna'i, "the Jealous (or Zealous) One"): One of the Twelve Apostles. This Simon was also named "the Canaanite" (Matthew 10:4 Mark 3:18 the King James Version) or "the Cananean" (Matthew 10:4 Mark 3:18 the Revised Version (British and American)) or "Zelotes" (Luke 6:15 Acts 1:13 the King James Version) or "the Zealot" (Luke 6:15 Acts 1:13 the Revised Version (British and American)).

According to the "Gospel of the Ebionites" or" Gospel of the Twelve Apostles" (of the 2nd century and mentioned by Origen) Simon received his call to the apostleship along with Andrew and Peter, the sons of Zebedee, Thaddaeus and Judas Iscariot at the Sea of Tiberias (compare Matthew 4:18-22; see also Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 24-27).

Although Simon, like the majority of the apostles, was probably a Galilean, the designation "Cananaean" is regarded as of political rather than of geographical significance (compare Luke's rendering). The Zealots were a faction, headed by Judas of Galilee, who "in the days of the enrollment" (compare Acts 5:37 Luke 2:1, 2) bitterly opposed the threatened increase of taxation at the census of Quirinius, and would have hastened by the sword the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

Simon has been identified with Simon the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3 Matthew 13:55), but there also are reasons in favor of identifying him with Nathanael.

Thus (1) all the arguments adduced in favor of the Bartholomew-Nathanael identification (see NATHANAEL) can equally be applied to that of Simon-Nathanael, except the second. But the second is of no account, since the Philip-Bartholomew connection in the Synoptists occurs merely in the apostolic lists, while in John it is narrative. Further, in the Synoptists, Philip is connected in the narrative, not with Bartholomew but with Andrew.

(2) The identity is definitely stated in the Genealogies of the Twelve Apostles (see NATHANAEL). Further, the "Preaching of Simon, son of Cleopas" (compare Budge, II, 70;) has the heading "The preaching of the blessed Simon, the son of Cleopas, who was surnamed Judas, which is interpreted Nathanael, who became bishop of Jerusalem after James the brother of our Lord." Eusebius (Historia Ecclesiastica, III, xi, 32; IV, xxii) also refers to a Simon who succeeded James as bishop of Jerusalem and suffered martyrdom under Trajan; and Hegesippus, whom Eusebius professes to quote, calls this Simon a son of Cleopas.

(3) The invitation of Philip to Nathanael (compare John 1:45) was one which would naturally be addressed to a follower of the Zealots, who based their cause on the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

(4) As Alpheus, the father of James, is generally regarded as the same as Clopas or Cleopas (see JAMES), this identification of the above Simon Nathanael, son of Cleopas, with Simon Zelotes would shed light on the reason of the juxtaposition of James son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes in the apostolic lists of Luke and Acts, i.e. they were brothers.

C. M. Kerr

2581. Kananaios -- Cananaean, Aramaic for Zealot, surname of one ...
... Cananaean, Aramaic for Zealot, surname of one of the twelve apostles. Part of Speech:
Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Kananaios Phonetic Spelling: (kan-an-ee ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2581.htm - 7k

After Prayer Jesus Selects Twelve Apostles.
... him from Iscariot, but later (for Luke and John wrote later than Matthew and Mark)
by the name Judas"John 14:22.] ^a 4 Simon the Cananaean, ^c who was called ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xli after prayer jesus selects.htm

Leadership for Service
... and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas ...
/.../the social principles of jesus/chapter vii leadership for service.htm

Cananaean (2 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia CANANAEAN; CANAANITE. ka-na-ne'-an, ka'-nan-it. See
SIMON; CANANAEAN. SIMON THE CANAANITE; SIMON THE CANANAEAN; SIMON THE ZEALOT. ...
/c/cananaean.htm - 10k

Canaanite (74 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CANANAEAN; CANAANITE. ka-na-ne'-an, ka'-nan-it. See
SIMON; CANANAEAN. SIMON THE CANAANITE; SIMON THE CANANAEAN; SIMON THE ZEALOT. ...
/c/canaanite.htm - 36k

Zealot (4 Occurrences)
... fanatical partisan. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SIMON THE CANAANITE;
SIMON THE CANANAEAN; SIMON THE ZEALOT. (Simon Kananaios ...
/z/zealot.htm - 12k

Canals (5 Occurrences)

/c/canals.htm - 9k

Iscariote (11 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Iscariote (11 Occurrences). Matthew 10:4 Simon the Cananaean,
and Judas the Iscariote, who also delivered him up. (DBY). ...
/i/iscariote.htm - 9k

Delivered (427 Occurrences)
... into Galilee. (WEB ASV DBY YLT). Matthew 10:4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas
the Iscariote, who also delivered him up. (DBY). Matthew ...
/d/delivered.htm - 35k

Cananite (2 Occurrences)

/c/cananite.htm - 6k

Deliver (397 Occurrences)
... Amen.' (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 10:4 Simon the Cananaean, and
Judas the Iscariote, who also delivered him up. (Root in DBY YLT). ...
/d/deliver.htm - 42k

Simon (75 Occurrences)
... The Revised Version has "Cananaean;" marg., "or Zealot" He is also called "Zelotes"
(Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13; RV, "the Zealot"), because previous to his call to ...
/s/simon.htm - 91k

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