Which apostle was known as 'the Zealot'?

Which apostle was known as “the Zealot”? Simon was known as Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. The title distinguishes him from Simon Peter and appears in the apostle lists in Luke and Acts, where he is called “the Zealot.” Matthew and Mark use a related term often translated as “the Cananaean” or “the Zealot.”

The designation may refer to zeal or passionate religious commitment rather than membership in the later political movement called the Zealots. Because the New Testament gives very little information about Simon, his precise background cannot be established with certainty. Some translations preserve forms of the Greek word, while others explain its meaning in English.

Simon is sometimes called Simon the Canaanite, but this does not necessarily mean he came from the land of Canaan. The term is generally understood as deriving from a Semitic root meaning “zealous.” That makes “Simon the Zealot” the standard identification in modern English Bible translations and quiz references.

He is also easily confused with Simon Peter, another apostle. They were separate members of the Twelve. Later traditions associate Simon with missionary journeys and martyrdom, but those details are not firmly recorded in the New Testament.