Did Any of Jesus' 12 Disciples Ever Marry and Have a Family?
Introduction
Scripture does not explicitly state whether any of Jesus' 12 disciples ever married and had families before following Him. However, we can draw some insights from scholarly sources and early church tradition. Some of the disciples, particularly Peter, are mentioned to have had familial connections. This article explores the evidence and presents an overview of what is known about the marital status and familial life of these disciples.
The Case of Peter
The most well-known information about a disciple's marital status is Peter's. As scripture mentions Peter's 'mother-in-law' being healed by Jesus (Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:30-31, Luke 4:38-39), we can conclude that Peter was married. Early Church tradition ascribes him a daughter named Saint Petronilla, though the likelihood of this is debated. The Apocryphal Acts of John also mentions a daughter of Peter, which may or may not be the same as Petronilla.
New Testament and Extra-Biblical Sources
Other than Peter, extra-biblical sources provide limited information. Philip, another disciple, is reported to have had four daughters, all of whom are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. These daughters are described as Christians with the power of prophecy. They were highly regarded in the early church, and it is believed that their writings or testimonies were used by Luke when composing the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Early Christian historian Papias also referenced these daughters, noting that two of them remained with Philip in their old age and that one was even raised from the dead.
Other Disciples and Their Families
Less is known about the marital status of the other disciples. However, there are a few speculative cases based on early church tradition and apocryphal writings:
James the Less (Son of Alphaeus): If James the Less, brother of Jesus, is to be identified with James son of Alphaeus, he may have had a son named Justus. Justus is noted as the third Jewish Bishop of Jerusalem.
Jude, Brother of Jesus: Jude, also an apostle, is believed to have had children who were martyred under Emperor Trajan. One of these descendants, Judah Kyriakos, is said to have been the last Jewish Bishop of Jerusalem.
Judas Iscariot: According to the Apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, Judas Iscariot was married. There is a story told when Judas was remorseful for betraying Jesus. He told his wife that he would kill himself because Jesus would punish him when He returned. His wife laughed, telling him that Jesus couldn’t raise from the dead, and suddenly, the chicken she was roasting came back to life.
An Unmarried Apostle: St. Paul implies that one of the apostles was a widower in one of his letters. While this could be reference to a different disciple, the text provides no specific names.
Conclusion
While there is insufficient evidence in the New Testament to determine the marital status of all Jesus' disciples, early church tradition and apocryphal writings provide some interesting insights. It is clear that some disciples had families, while others may have remained single. The apostles' experiences before, during, and after their time with Jesus offer a rich tapestry of the human side of their discipleship that is both intriguing and instructive.
Keywords: disciples, marriage, early church tradition