Two thousand years ago, a wandering Jewish preacher and miracle worker traversed Galilee, attracting followers to establish what he called the "kingdom of God." The revolutionary movement he sparked was so threatening to the established order that he was arrested, tortured, and executed as a common criminal. A few decades after his humiliating death, his followers would come to call him God. Reza Aslan presents a provocative, captivating, and thoroughly researched biography that challenges old and deeply rooted perceptions of the man we know as Jesus of Nazareth.

By comparing and illuminating the Jesus of the Gospels with historical sources, Aslan paints a portrait of a man full of faith and passion, yet torn by contradictions: a peaceful man who urged his followers to arm themselves with swords; an exorcist who healed through faith and urged his disciples to keep his identity secret; and finally, the subversive "King of the Jews," whose promise to free them from Rome was not fulfilled during his brief life. Aslan explores why the early Christian church chose to spread an image of Jesus as a peaceful spiritual teacher rather than a politically conscious revolutionary. He also tackles the enigma of how Jesus understood himself - the mystery at the heart of all subsequent debates about his divinity.

"Zealot" offers a new perspective on one of the greatest stories ever told, while also affirming the radical and groundbreaking nature of the life and mission of Jesus of Nazareth.