As with any activist group who has had its consciousness raised in an area of already existing deep conviction and tradition -- those in the beginning whose motives, though sometimes misguided, but, nevertheless, above reproach -- others, on the other hand, of a lower sort with self-interests and less than pure motives, will soon be attracted to it. As a result, the very thing that is cherished and intended to be defended and preserved itself becomes an object of attack through the cancerous evil of its less than pure followers, especially if those rise to leadership of the party. Such was the case with the Zealot.

Even though its original premise of independent Jewish rule and purity of life under the Mosaic law should not be seen as undesirable in itself (and should be accepted as the wise thing to do if seen as God's will), and those who hold to such a high aspiration should be applauded, however, it became the cloak that covered the less than pure motives of baser men who co-opted its rallying cry. And more often than not in any day, the young and less wise of this day were drawn to its persuasive call, heady power, and possible riches. Robbing and plundering became common, against both Jew and Roman alike. As a result, they came to resemble more the terrorist than soldier. Violence filled the land. Travel was dangerous and safety could only be obtained in numbers, but that was no guarantee. Like others before, Judea's cup of iniquity was becoming full again that would eventually remove the Jews from the land for almost two thousand years. (Compare: Gen.6:5; 15:16; 18:20-21,32; 19:4,13,15; Isa.3:8-9; Ex.20:5; 28:38-43; 34:6-17; Lev.18:24-30; Lev.26; Nu.14:18-24; 23:21-24; Isa.1:4-9; 64:6-7; 65:2-7; Jer.9:12-16; 22:1-9; Lev.10:16-20; Nu.18:1; Heb.10:1-14; Isa.53:5-12; 7:14; Mt.2:20-21; Jn.17:4-5; Lk.22:39-44; Jn.18:11; 19:29-30; Heb.2:9-18.)
And as Josephus said of them:

They thence proceeded to destroy utterly the least remains of a political government, and introduced the most complete scene of iniquity in all instances that were practicable; under which scene, that sort of people that were called Zealots grew up, and who indeed corresponded to the name; for they imitated every wicked work; nor, if their memory suggested any evil thing that had formerly been done, did they avoid zealously to pursue the same; and although they gave themselves that name from their zeal for what was good, yet did it agree to them only by way of irony, on account of those they had unjustly treated by their wild and brutish disposition, or as thinking the greatest mischiefs to be the greatest good. Accordingly, they all met with such ends as God deservedly brought upon them in way of punishment. . . . (Wars 2.8.1 - pp. 598-599)

This seditious rebellion would not be permitted by Rome. Such arrogant lawlessness would eventually provoke sufficient ire of the underestimated Roman resolve and power that the insurrection would be put down, with Judas himself being slain. But the damage had already been done. Embers of hostility would continue to simmer beneath the surface, erupting here and there with the latest powerful rebel (Acts 5:36-37), only to be subdued again and again, all the while waiting to burst into full flame of all out war when the next sufficient catalyst struck. It would come under Florus. But for now, the land was restored to some resemblance of order under the Roman procurator.

Some of these procurators (e.g., Festus) treated the Jews kindly and attempted to provide for them some degree of a peaceful life. Times, however, continued to grow worse. Having already been introduced under the Zealot, bands of robbers increased throughout the region. No place was safe from their brazen acts perpetrated eventually in broad daylight, even before intimidated witnesses. These Jewish robbers, many now under the cloak of the Zealot, did not discriminate in their attack upon the region's inhabitants, attacking both Jew and Roman. With their villainous way of life becoming addictive and their consciences seared, many plundered, burned villages and homes, raped, and murdered for the sheer thrill. Their weapon of choice: a curved dagger, or sickle, called sicae, that could be concealed under their cloaks, had earned for them a feared special title -- the Sicarii, or, Assassins.

This cancer would become terminal to the Jewish state, and like all things that accelerate in its final stages of demise, would spread rapidly. The Jewish state was advancing in increased disarray. No longer did the counsel of the older and wiser hold sway over the younger. Decency and honor was sacrificed to rampant greed and personal ambitions.

Following Festus' somewhat stabilizing rule as the 11th procurator, even attempting to rid the area of the many bands of robbers, the region would shift successively into the hands of two final rulers whose love for money and power went beyond the scope of human decency and moral and civil acceptability.

First, Albinus would cover his deeds of avarice with public display of mock sincerity. But his successor, Florus, would not be so scrupulous. So strong was his love, no, lust for money, that the jails were emptied and pacts were struck for sharing with the many robbers let loose upon the countryside. In attempts to shame him, citizens in mock would walk the streets with baskets for "donations" to help support such a "needy" ruler, only to provoke him further. With his avarice eyes on the treasures and control of the crown of Jewish life -- their Temple -- he set out to create many seditions among the Jews. This was done to provoke sufficient uprisings among them that might give him cover to take by force what otherwise would be condemned by Roman law, and also to divert public attention from his previous and ongoing more petty corrupt illegal activities.

Time and again the Jews suffered horrendously under his evil plots and traps. At times, thousands were innocently massacred under the auspices of his disingenuous anti-seditious enforcements. Women and children, even infants, were put to the sword and dragged through the streets. Innocent bystanders were trampled, captured, and crucified with such swiftness and in numbers along Jerusalem's inroads, sanity took its leave. It was a time of hopelessness, with no apparent avenue of recourse. Citizens were reduced to cower within their homes in grim fear wondering when they too would fall victim to this evil darkness now overshadowing their land and sacred city. Fear was as common to man then as can be seen in any creature of prey in the wild seeking survival. So bold and arrogant was Florus with his evil agenda, that even Herod Agrippa's beautiful sister, Bernice, came close to being slain in his attack upon her when she appealed to him for restitution of Jewish peace.