"Zebedee". Name for Simon Magus, meaning "my gift", to contrast him with the other Samaritan, Jonathan Annas, whose name meant "Gift of God".  Zebedee was also the "Father" of James and John, as he had instructed Niceta and Aquila before they turned to Zacchaeus."       Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls --- page 393, 398

     "(December, 32 AD) ---"This season was a less happy one for some of (Jesus') associates.  It was at this time that Pilate "mingled the blood of the Galileans with their sacrifices".  It was one of several occasions when the Young Lion of Wrath behaved with complete insensitivity to Jewish religious feelings, possibly the time when there was a protest about his spending money from the sacred treasury for building works.  He ordered his soldiers, carrying clubs, to dress in Jewish garments  and mix with the protesting Jews.   The soldiers bludgeoned them indescriminatly, killing many." 

      "The three zealot leaders, Simon Magus (Pope), Judas Iscariot (his Second), and Theudas (Barabbas), led the uprising of nationalists.  They were structured as a triarchy of Priest, Prophet, and King, and in their minds they formed a reproduction of the triumvirate that had formerly ruled Rome.   When their protest failed and their followers were routed, they themselves escaped, but had to go into hiding.   Theudas-Barabbas had blood on his hands; he had killed a Roman soldier, "committed murder in the uprising".

     "From this time, Pilate's orders were to find and round up the zealot triarchy; if he suceeded in this, he would gain credit for having put down a constant source of harassment of the Romans."

     "In the reproduction "Jerusalem", [at Qumran] , the "Mount of Olives" was the monastery building east of the aqueduct.   After the Last Supper Jesus with his companions went across to the building, then turned down to the area of the divided cistern south of the monastery wall."

     "There were two hours to wait until midnight, when the test for Simon Magus and his associates would come.  Jesus had given evidence of support for Simon [the raising of Lazarus story], and was known to endorse western ways and the Julian calendar [this midnight was the proper time]; Theudas-Barabbas also was in the same party, as a close associate of the tetrarch Antipas."

     "If heaven favored Jesus at this time, the sign would come in the place in which he was most identified, the meeting hall of villagers.   Both married men and Gentiles were of this rank, and the hall had been built in the place where they assembled when they came to Qumran as pilgrims."

    "Jesus, coming to the doorway, said to John Mark, "Sit here", then took Peter, James, and John inside the hall.   During the next two hours he wrestled with the question of his loyalties.  He was not really on the side of the Magus; he had merely given him personal friendship.  It would be a betrayal of his own political position if he was arrested and tried as a zealot.  His political sympathies actually lay with Annas, who had also come into the village hall for the midnight vigil.  For a time, Jesus turned to him for support, submitting to him, and praying to him as the Father. (Mark 14:35-39)   Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls --- page 108, 109

5 AM old time  8 AM new time -- Pilate arrives from Jerusalem (40 km, 200

                                                        stadia, 2 1/2  hours by horse, horse rate 80

                                                        st per hour)  He tries and

                                                       condemns Simon Magus.