What work did the disciples do before they met Christ?

Answer 1

Most of them were hard working fisherman who love and revered God in their Hebrew faith.

Answer

Contrary to the above, we know for sure that only two of the twelve disciples were fishermen, and another two sons of a fisherman.

Simon (later renamed Peter) and Andrew his brother were rough, tough fishermen before meeting Jesus. We also know that Peter was a married man as we are told that Jesus healed his mother-in-law - but we are not told the name of Peter's wife.

James and his brother John were sons of Zebedee - a fisherman. in the days when life expectancy was only around 45. this meant that if Zebedee was still an active fisherman, and, therefore, still young, James and John would be no more than teenagers when they met Jesus. They probably would not have had a career at that time, although it is probable that they would have followed in their father's footsteps and become fishermen themselves.

Matthew (Levi) was a hated tax collector. Tax collectors were hated as they were in cahoots with the Roman occupying army and collected money for them. They often swindled their own countrymen to make a lot more money than they were paid by the Romans. On hearing Jesus call to him 'Follow me' we are told that Matthew left his booth there and then and followed him, never to return to his evil ways.

Simon the Zealot, from Canaan, as his name implies, was a political activist who wanted to see the Romans out of Judaea. Other than that little is recorded in the gospels about him.

Judas Iscariot was the 'keeper of the purse' (ie the treasurer) of the 12 disciples. Some have inferred from this that he had a previous life to do with accountancy, but there is no evidence in the gospels of this.

Thomas was called 'didymis' meaning 'a twin'. Therefore he had a twin brother somewhere but he is not recorded in the gospels.

As for ther other disciples, Philip, James the son of Alpheus, Bartholemew and Thaddeus we are not told about them before they met Jesus. Nor are we told anything about Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot after his suicide out of remorse for betraying Jesus.

The only other 'apostle', Paul, was not one of the 12 but is still regarded as an apostle as he met the risen Christ on the Damascus Road, and founded many churches across the Roman Empire. Paul was born in Tarsus, on the south coast of Turkey and was both a Jew and a Roman citizen. He was a tent-maker by trade. Paul was also trained in Jewish law by the great teacher Gamaliel and became a high-ranking Jewish official and Pharisee in Jerusalem. before his conversion to follow Christ, he was a persecutor of Christians, and we are told that he (using the Jewish version of his name 'Saul') was present when Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death for his faith, and looked on with approval.

Apart from Paul, who was highly educated, the others would have had a basic education in the Mosaic Law and in their Hebrew faith. This does not mean to say that they were unintelligent - those who went on to write Biblical books (like the letters of Peter and John, and the gospels of Matthew and John) showed a high degree of intelligence - but they would not have had the sort of education that we would take for granted today. nevertheless, Jesus saw qualities in all of these people that many others missed - qualities that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, turned them from a motley crew into the greatest evangelistic team that the world has ever known.

Answer 2

The careers of most of the apostles prior to being called by Jesus is unknown.
Simon Peter, and Andrew, and the two sons of Zebedee; James and John were all fishermen
Bartholomew may have been a Farmer
Matthew was a Tax Collector

Answer 3

Here is a partial list. (Perhaps someone else can fill in the blanks.)

Peter - Fisherman

Andrew - Fisherman

James the Greater (son of Zebedee) - Farmer

James the Less (son of Alphaeus) -

John - Fisherman

Philip -

Bartholomew -

Matthew - Tax Collector

Thomas - Carpenter

Thaddeus - Farmer

Simon - Farmer

Judas Iscariot -

they all did jobs like any normal person

Answer 4

The gospels record the 12 apostles as being:

Simon (whom Jesus nicknamed 'Peter' the 'Rock')

Andrew, brother of Simon/Peter

Both of these were fishermen.

James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee

These were teenage boys and Zebedee their father was also a fisherman, so it is assumed that they would have followed on in his profession.

Matthew, (also called 'Levi') was a tax collector

The rest of the disciples were:

James, the son of Alpheus

Philip,

Bartholomew (also called 'Nathaniel')

Thomas (also called 'didymus' - 'the twin')

Thaddeus, also called 'Judas' or 'Jude'

Simon the Zealot, and

Judas Iscariot. (who betrayed Jesus). After his suicide, Matthias took his place.

We are not told the professions/occupations of these disciples.

In addition to the 12, Paul claimed the role of "Apostle to the Gentiles" and also called himself the 'least of the apostles' because he persecuted the early Church before his conversion. We know that he was born in Tarsus, Turkey and, by profession, was a tent maker.

Answer 5

Some were fishermen--Peter and Andrew--

(need more examples, please)

Answer 6

In terms of vocation, several were fishermen, one was a tax collector.

Answer 7

Before Jesus called the 12 disciples , most were fishermen, Matthew was a tax collector.