How Old Were The Apostles?

[Guest Rattler]

I recently heard a theory about the ages of the apostles......... see what you think?

The Book of Revelations is believed to have been John's last writing in about 96AD whilst exiled on the island of Patmos, he was believed to have been about 80 years old by this time.

If John was 80 years old in 96AD then he would have been born at about 16AD and if Jesus started his ministry at about 30AD THEN JOHN WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND 14 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WAS CALLED BY JESUS.

Some other evidence as to the age of the Apostles is indicated in the scripture where Peter is asked by the authorities if his "master"(Jesus) had payed the temple tax. Peter, without knowing the right answer, said that He was, but went back to Jesus and asked him anyway. Jesus said that he wasn't, but in order to keep the peace, if Peter went fishing and caught a fish, inside the mouth of the fish would be a silver coin with which he could pay the tax for the 2 of them(Mat17:24-27).

The question here is...... Why did Jesus offer to pay the temple Tax for Him and Peter and not the others?

The answer might be that as you had to be over 20 to pay the Temple tax, this would indicate that the others were all under the age of twenty.

Peter is the only one it is written that had a mother in law(Mat 8-14), the others, perhaps, being too young?

I find this quite amazing and would love to hear your thoughts on this

[nebula]

Hi, Rattler!

Interesting thinkings - something I'd never come across before.

I believe it is traditionally believed that John was one of the younger, or the youngest, of the apostles.

Yes, Peter was old enough to be married. I've heard that the Jews back then didn't marry until they were older and more mature, though. Maybe someone else will know this to explain it better?

Matthew was a tax collector - so he definantly had to be old enough for the job - whatever age that was.

It will be interesting to see what others come up with.

[apothanein kerdos]

Most scholars and even casual readers of the bible are starting to discover that Peter might have been the oldest disciple at 19 years old. Notice how the mother of James and John walked up to Jesus and asked Him a question, she interceded on their behalf. If these were grown men...why was their mother hanging around? Matthew would have been able to hold a job as a tax collector probably around the age of 15 or 16. Remember, there were no child labor laws. Likewise, if I remember right, he would have graduated from "school" by that time...thus he would have had the intelligence to hold a job that required the use of money.

In all reality, the disciples were probably between the ages of 13-20....

[Leonard]

Very interesting. Hadn't thought about it much, before.

[apothanein kerdos]

Well, the other thing to consider is that most men got married around 17-19. They were expected to be somewhat established by the time they married...thus this means they probably started working around the age of 14. Notice how most of the disciples were called while they were still working for their fathers...not on their own. If I remember right, Matthew is the only exception...meaning he was probably 16 or 17.

[ann2]

Very good post, I had never thought about their ages either except that John was the youngest.I am looking forward to the answers.

[Trinity]

Wow... never thought about that...

[nebula]

I've been thinking about this.

Thinking about the Apostles as being teenagers does put a different perspective on things.

Remember how distracted they were with "who among them would be the greatest"? It does make more sense for teenagers to jockeying for position amidst each other than full grown adults.

Of course, it makes you wonder how old His other followers were at the time.

Like Mary Magdalene.

Or Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. I recall someone speculating they were in their senior years - never saw the explanation for why - but at least it would explain why Mary and Martha were living with their brother and not their husbands (if they had been widowed by then).

Very interesting to contemplate indeed.

[Work in Progress]

How come I'm always the one who has to look stupid??

Here's my stupid question:

Jesus started his ministry at about 30AD

I always thought "AD" meant "after death". BC- "before Christ", AD - "After Death". So, how could Jesus have a ministry after His own death?? I apologize in advance for being a dunce.

If these were grown men...why was their mother hanging around?

Oh, SJ, if you only KNEW how I am DYING to make a "Jewish Mother" joke here!!!!!!!!!!!!! :24:

Very interesting topic, Rattler

[nebula]

How come I'm always the one who has to look stupid??   

Here's my stupid question:

Jesus started his ministry at about 30AD

I always thought "AD" meant "after death". BC- "before Christ", AD - "After Death". So, how could Jesus have a ministry after His own death?? I apologize in advance for being a dunce.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A.D. stands for something in Latin (can't remember how it's spelled and said) which means "In the year of our Lord."

The creastors of the calandar meant to have the year of Christ's birth at A.D. 0, but it is more commonly believed now that the actual date of Christ's birth was in 5 or so B.C.

Someone want to fill in the gaps for me?