How old were the disciples of Jesus Christ during their ministry?

Answer 1

No one really knows. However, the disciples who were fishermen like Peter and Andrew his brother, would have to be fit enough to work hard as fishermen. As life expectancy in that country at that time was no more than about 40 years of age (although some did live to a ripe old age, but this was unusual), it is likely that Peter and Andrew would be relatively young men in their late 20s or early 30s (like Jesus himself - around 30-33).

Matthew (also called Levi) being a tax collector, had a sedentary job and could be any age from 20s through to 40s or more.

No indications are give of the other disciples, including Judas Iscariot, but it is likely they would fit into the same range - from 25 - 40.

However, the disciples James and his brother John were known as 'Sons of Thunder' and their father, Zebedee himself was a fisherman, owning a boat. Therefore, by the same logic as Peter and Andrew, Zebedee would have to be in his 30s at the oldest, meaning that James and John were little more than teenagers. This fits well with the story of their mother asking Jesus about who should sit at his right hand in his kingdom (Matthew 20:20) - the first recorded incident in the New Testament of a 'pushy parent' trying to get the best for her two boys! It also agrees with their title 'sons of thunder' - as two beligerent teenage boys. Finally, the evidence that John was but a teenager when he was a discple of Jesus allows for the fact that he was able to write his gospel much later in the first Century - around 80-100AD, when he was a very old man.

Answerif you look in Matthew 17:24-27 you will see that the deciples had to enter a town one day and to get in you had to pay a fee. Jesus started talking to peter and said catch a fish and the money will b in his mouth for you and thee. You had to be over 20 to pay the tax fee........then i asked the man who told me this, what is thee ment all the deciples.Well he looked it up and it said that thee was singular meaning only one person proving that peter and JEsus were the only deciples over 20

Answer 2

Biblical scholars say that the events described in the synoptic gospels appear to have taken place during the course of no more than one year. As Luke suggests that John the Baptist began preaching in 28 CE, this is why some say that the crucifixion took place in 30 CE.

John's Gospel makes it clear that its author saw the events in which the disciples were with Jesus took place over a period of three years. This is why some say that the crucifixion took place in 33 CE.

Answer 3

I have been doing a lot of research on this topic, and I believe they were under the age of 20 except for Peter.

The Pros of young age

The Coin in the fishes mouth

In Exodus 30:14-15, Jewish law states that every male over the age of 20 is to pay a half-shekel as census offering when they visit the temple of God. In Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus instructs Peter to "fish up" this tax. Peter finds a shekel in the mouth of the fish he catches; enough to pay the tax for two men, himself and Jesus. You could conclude that the others were underage and did not need to pay.

They were unmarried

Peter was the only disciple that was married

In their time, young men got married at 18 (average) If they were older than that, then they would most likely be married

Jesus called them "little ones"

In Matthew 11:25, Luke 10:21, and John 13:33, Jesus called them little ones. Kind of insulting for adults.

James and John

In Mark 1:19 Jesus saw James and John sons of Zebedee fishing with their father. If they were older, the family business would usually have gone over to them. They were most likely learning the trade.

In Mark 3:17 Jesus gives them the nickname Sons of Thunder

Sons, probably meant they were young, and Thunder probably because they were bold and zealous.

In Mathew 20:20-24 their mother asked Jesus, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."

That verse just doesn't make sence if they were grown men.

One fact that does not support it is that Mathew was a tax collector. Would they let someone be a tax collector if they were under 20? I don't know

Answer 4

The biblical account begins with them grown in their late 20's, early 30's, around the time John the Baptist reveals to Peter's brother, Andrew, Jesus' identity as the Messiah [John 1:36-41]. It was around this time that Jesus began to assemble them as a group.

But they all grew up from childhood in Judaea and almost had to be acquainted or familiar with each other much earlier through family business dealings or any number of other ways, socially, the Temple, or in passing.

They probably met as kids [if anyone can think of them as kids].

Answer 5

all of the disciples were under the age of 20 except for Peter. =]

Answer 6

The 12 disciples were not all the same age, John was the youngest.

Answer 7

The Bible does not state how old they were when they died.

Answer 8

The Bible doesn't say

Answer 9

No specific ages are given in scripture.

Answer 10

31/2 years