Are there Terrorists in the Bible?

Did New Testament People Experience Terrorism?

Centuries before there was an Assassin's Guild in the Middle East or mercenary Ninjas in Japan, there was a society of Terrorists which began its life among Jews in the vicinity of Palestine. In Latin they were called Sycarii (dagger-men). They are thought to have been a subset of the better-known Zealots, one of whom was an Apostle of Jesus, who struggled against the Roman overlords. The origin of the Zealots and their murderous cousins, the Sycarii, traces back to the political turmoil in Judea in the year AD 6.

Israel and the Romans

First, some background: After shaking off their Greek overlords, post-exile Israel became a more-or-less independent kingdom with the blessing of Rome. In AD 63 the Roman general Pompey intervened in their civil war by conquering Jerusalem, and appointed Hrycanus II as high priest. Then in AD 41 Mark Antony, who had been one of Julius Caesar's generals, appointed Herod the Great and his brother as client kings over the region. Yet another civil war saw Herod the Great go to Rome and be appointed as king to restore Hyrcanus II to the high priesthood.

Herod ruled until 4 BC, and at his death the Romans divided his kingdom among four of his children. Herod Archelaus became "ethnarch" of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea (biblical Edom). But Archelaus was over his head as administrator and was removed by the Romans in AD 6. Judea and Samaria were not to have a king, but instead were placed under a series of "prefects' (governors) appointed from Rome.

Judas the Galilean

AD 6 was a troubled time for the Jews. Not only had they lost their status as a client kingdom, but also a "census" had been declared, which meant that every person was going to be taxed. Using Roman money. With "graven images." Many Jews took exception to that, and some were incensed, vowing that they would never touch "unclean" Roman money. They became known as "zealots" for the Law of Moses.

Judas the Galilean took violent exception, and led a fierce revolt in which he was killed and his followers were scattered (Acts 5:37) as far as Egypt and Syria. Although Judas led the rebellion, he would not be classed as a terrorist, for his targets were the Roman overlords, which the Jews viewed as an occupying force in their native land. But at least 2,000 Jews were crucified by the Romans as punishment for supporting the rebellion, not to mention those that died in combat against the Roman army.

There was little that the survivors could do in retaliation. It is thought that the Jews boycotted the purchase of Roman pottery about this time, because the characteristic red clay pottery of Rome disappears from Palestine archaeological sites after AD 6.

The Sicarii

Clearly this was an unacceptable result for many. The Zealots remained as a recognized group, and were marked as strict adherents to the Law of Moses who would refuse to handle Roman money. But the more violent revolutionaries went underground, and began carrying concealed daggers.

The Sicarii's targets were primarily other Jews considered to be collaborators with the Romans, or quiescent in the face of Roman rule. They attacked Jewish notables and elites associated with the priesthood, whom they considered as benefitting from the overlords.

During festivals they would mingle with the crowds, and stab their enemies with their short daggers. When their victims fell, they would join in the cries of indignation and pretend to be helping to find the perpetrators, thus avoiding detection themselves. I consider that since their violence was politically motivated rather than military action against Roman soldiers, they may aptly be called terrorists.

Some Bible commentators have alleged that Judas, Man of Kerioth (Jesus' betrayer), was a Sicari. I find this unlikely. First, Judas was assigned the task of carrying the money purse, which would have included Roman coins with images on them--a task which would have been anathema to a zealot or a sicari. And second, Judas betrayed Jesus by collaborating with the priestly class at Jerusalem, the very people-group who were bitterly opposed by the sicarii.

These terrorists are mentioned in the Bible once  at Acts 22:38, when Paul is arrested by the Roman commander of the Jerusalem garrison. He says to Paul, "Do you know Greek? Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Sicarion out into the wilderness?" (Sicarion is the Greek plural for dagger-bearers. Your Bible may translate this as "assassins.")

One or two terrorists is scary enough. This Roman commander speaks of having to deal with four thousand of them at one time. And yes, there are terrorists in the Bible.