# Zeal (Zealous, Zealot)

A person who has “zeal” or is “zealous” is very eager and strongly devoted to doing something (see: Acts 21:20; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1). A person who has zeal for another person or a thing is very eager to help and support that person or thing (see: John 2:17; 2 Corinthians 7:7). A person who has “zeal for Yahweh” is someone who faithfully obeys God and teaches others to do the same thing (see: 1 Kings 19:10).

When Jesus lived on earth, there was a group of Jews called “the zealots.”  They wanted to free Israel from Roman rule. The disciple Simon was a zealot  (see: Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). 

See: Yahweh (I am);[New Testament](../articles/newtestament.md); [Disciple](../articles/disciple.md); [Israel](../articles/israel.md); [Rome (Roman Empire, Caesar)](../articles/rome.md)