🥇 Matthew (Levi) – MOST LIKELY THE RICHEST

Why Matthew stands out:

• Profession: Tax collector for Rome

• Tax collectors were not poor:

  • They handled large sums of money

  • Often took commissions or extra fees

• Had enough wealth to:

  • Host a large banquet for Jesus (Luke 5:29)

  • Maintain a household

📌 Tax collectors were socially hated because they were wealthy and seen as collaborators.

➡️ Conclusion:
Matthew was almost certainly the wealthiest apostle at the time Jesus called him.

🥈 Zebedee (father of James & John) (family wealth)

Though not an apostle himself, his sons were.

Evidence:

• Owned a fishing business, not just fishing work

• Had hired servants (Mark 1:20) — a major wealth indicator

• His sons left a profitable enterprise to follow Jesus

➡️ James and John likely came from an upper-working or merchant class family.

🥉 Peter, Andrew, James & John (Upper Working Class)

• Owned boats

• Operated in partnership (Luke 5)

• Not poor peasants

• Small business owners, not elites

➡️ Comfortable, but not wealthy by Roman standards.

⚖️ Judas Iscariot (Trusted With Money, Not Proven Rich)

• Served as treasurer of the group (John 12:6)

• Handled donations

• Accused of skimming funds

📌 Being treasurer does not equal being rich.

➡️ Wealth access ≠ personal wealth.

🪙 Thomas, Philip, Bartholomew, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot

• No evidence of wealth

• Likely from artisan or rural backgrounds

❌ Was Any Apostle “Rich” by Modern Standards?

No.

Even Matthew:

• Likely comfortable, not ultra-rich

• Gave up financial security to follow Jesus

Jesus Himself said:

“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58)

The apostolic lifestyle became:

• Communal living

• Shared resources

• Voluntary poverty for mission

RANKING (MOST LIKELY)

THE DEEPER LESSON

Jesus deliberately called:

• One rich man (Matthew)

• Several businessmen (fishermen)

• Political radicals (Simon the Zealot)

• Common men

The Gospel was never anti-wealth — it was anti-idolization of wealth.