When you think about the twelve disciples, the thought of Jesus’ disciples being married isn’t something we often associate with these individuals. It’s an interesting question that is sometimes asked. Were any of the disciples married? Does the Bible say if any of the apostles ever said “I do”?
The Disciple Peter Was Married
Although the Bible doesn’t have a lot to say about the marital status of the twelve disciples, we do have a couple of verses that give us some insight into the matter.
(Mathew 8:14-15) When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
The Gospels of Mathew, Mark, and Luke all three tell about Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law. Therefore, we know Peter had a wife. Whether Peter was currently married when his mother-in-law was healed, or if he was a widower at this time, the Bible doesn’t say. His wife is never specifically mentioned in the Bible.
The Other Apostles/Disciples Wives
(1 Corinthians 9:5) Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
We do not find the Bible saying anything else beyond Peter that associates by name any of the other eleven disciples being married. Even so, Paul’s question in 1 Corinthians leads us to believe that at least some of the other apostles could have been married. The apostle Paul assumed the right to take a believing wife along with him as the other apostles had done.
Clement of Alexandria
When answering the question, “Were any of Jesus’ disciples married?” it’s worth noting that some people make mention of Clement of Alexandria. The Christian theologian says that both Peter and Philip were married in his writings.
According to the Bible, it does seem that at least some of the twelve disciples did say “I do”!
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