Were the apostles educated?

Answer:

Of Peter and John we are specifically told, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). Though Jesus received this same accusation, "And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?"" (John 7:15). It is typical of men to assume that if another did not train in the same way that they had trained, then the person must be uneducated. Thus those from ivy-league schools look down on those from state colleges; those from colleges where Bible is taught look down on those who have trained under other preachers or from intense personal study; and those from government-sponsored schools look down on those who are schooled at home.

Paul had a traditional Jewish education, being taught by one of the more famous teachers of his time. "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today" (Acts 22:3). But all his training was poor because it led him along the wrong path for many years. Peter and John's education was less formal, but they knew enough to recognize the Christ when they spoke with him.

"Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (I Corinthians 1:20-21).