Chapter 152 of 404

Galileans and the Zealot Jesus?

If Jesus’ Galilean context might explain some of his popularity vis-à-vis the usual Judean popularity of the Pharisees, it does not lend any specific support to the idea, briefly surveyed early in this book, that Jesus was a revolutionary. “Judas the Galilean” (Acts 5:37), leader of the infamous and ill-fated tax revolt during Jesus’ childhood, was naturally considered Galilean (though not actually born there).⁴² This association does not, however, mean that Galileans were particularly predisposed toward revolution, as some have suggested.⁴³

The “revolutionary Galilean” approach neglects considerable evidence.⁴⁴ When Josephus’ rhetoric is taken into account,⁴⁵ Galilee was clearly unprepared at the time of the first revolt; it hardly proved an ideal base for Zealot sympathizers. ⁴⁶ Sepphoris, in fact, refused to join the revolt of 66-70 (perhaps recalling its earlier destruction under the Roman governor Varus). Further, the messianic uprisings of Theudas, the Samaritan, and the Egyptian prophet that Josephus reports neither transpired near Galilee nor boasted explicit Galilean support.⁴⁷

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