[Valpal1]

How many people could read back then or even now for that matter?

They were Jewish, the most literate people on earth, so literate that even the son of a poor carpenter could and did read scripture at the temple.

[GonzoII]

"They were Jewish, the most literate people on earth, so literate that even the son of a poor carpenter could and did read scripture at the temple."

But Christ commanded the Gospel to be preached to the whole world:

Mk:16:15:

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (KJV)

[Cronos]

1. Where did you get that the Jews during Jesus's time were the most literate people on earth?

2. He may have been the son of a carpenter, but carpenters were craftsmen, so not necessarily poor -- definitely not rich, but not as per the standards of those times, poor.