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The question of illiteracy is a relative one, depending upon which language one is supposed to be reading and writing. The New Testament was written in Greek. The Old Testament was entirely in Hebrew until after 200 BC when the Septuagint came into existence in Alexandria. Since books were hand-copied in that era, the initial spread of the Greek version of the Old Testament was probably limited to those places where Jews commonly spoke Greek. The Dead Sea Scrolls, some copied during this era, are in Hebrew. Consequently, it is safe to conclude that the Old Testament Scriptures were probably still read and studied in Hebrew by ordinary Jews during the first century.

In Israel of the first century, we know from direct quotations of Christ on the cross in the New Testament that common Jewish speech of the era was Aramaic, a close linguist cousin of Hebrew. Additionally, it is recorded in the New Testament that Christ read and taught from the Old Testament in the synagogues. These readings, as noted above, were, most likely, in Hebrew. Therefore, we can conclude that both the Reader and His listeners understood Hebrew as well as Aramaic.

In the passages where Christ is recorded as having read from the Old Testament, there is no comment that a non-priest, in fact, a simple carpenter, should be found as an unusual source of literacy. From the lack of comment it would seem that Hebrew literacy was common, if not universal, among ordinary Jews at the time. Since it is unremarkable that a carpenter should have been literate in Hebrew, it is probably equally unremarkable that fishermen, tax collectors, or physicians, etc., should have, likewise, been literate.

As additional evidence of widespread literacy, in one New Testament instance, an Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Old Testament and Steven explained his readings to him. Again, it is not remarked upon as unusual that either of them were literate in Old Testament Hebrew. Consequently, it seems logical to conclude that the apostles and a large number, if not all, of the early Jewish converts (which, prior to Peter’s and Paul’s missionary trips, were all converts) were literate in Hebrew.

In summary, it appears that the article’s author may have been overstating his case in asserting that the apostles were illiterate, at least in Hebrew.

Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Old Testament and Steven explained his readings to him.

Just wanted to point out to you that in your comment you assume that the Ethiopian Eunuch read the Old Testament in Hebrew and Steven explained in to him in Hebrew also. This could be true, but since the Greek Septuagint did exist, it is possible that they both could of used the Septuagint. I think this is more plausible being that Ethiopia was quiet a ways away, and probably more reasonable that the Ethiopian knew and used Greek the common language of the area and most of the know World at that time.

"The question of illiteracy is a relative one, depending upon which language one is supposed to be reading and writing. The New Testament was written in Greek. The Old Testament was entirely in Hebrew."

You would be correct. But remember, when King James had the writings translated into the Bible, he included all major scholars - both Hebrew and Greek - and there appears to be a mixture of both in the New Testament.

It's one of the reasons I use the Amplified Bible - it's the truest Greek translation of the whole Bible, but to me it give a much clearer picture of what Jesus actually did by his life, death and resurrection.

I found it interesting that God would write the Old Testament in Hebrew - the foundation language of the Jewish nation - but the New Testament was in Greek - which is a much more amplified and flowery language.

The Amplified Bible gives much more meaning to some of the scriptures - such as Hebrews 13:4-5 - saying "I will never leave you or forsake you" - but the Amplified says, "I will not, I will not, I will not leave you or forsake you nor leave you without help or support". Looks like a little "amplification" was a good thing.