From the Greek noun ζηλωτής (zēlōtês), meaning "emulator, admirer, follower," which itself comes from the Greek verb ζηλόω (zēloō), meaning "to emulate," a zealot is someone who is uncompromising, and even fanatical in their pursuit of religious, political, or other ideals. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus says that there was a sect of Jews during the first century CE called "the Zealots" that he blames for starting the Great Revolt against Rome. And interestingly, one of Jesus's disciples was called Simon "the Zealot" (cf. Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).