[Elsie]

Some were fishermen, sure, but he clearly had a few who were literate.

NO doubt; but quite a backing away from:

... he had well-educated followers ...

[A_perfect_lady]

I’m not backing away at all: he had well-educated followers. He had fishermen too, hey, that’s great. But the fact that there is written record means some of his followers were educated. That’s simple logic.