For example, most of the Qumran members (a Jewish sect just prior to and during Jesus’ day) were mostly celibate (the cemeteries are overwhelmingly male – literally a handful of female and child skeletons). Philo, a first century Jewish theologian described the Essenes as those who “repudiate marriage… for no one of the Essenes ever marries a wife.” Interestingly, the Essenes not only escaped condemnation for their celibacy; they were often admired. Philo also wrote, “This now is the enviable system of life of these Essenes, so that not only private individuals but even mighty kings, admiring the men, venerate their sect, and increase… the honors which they confer on them.”

Jesus himself mentions those who were single “for the kingdom of God’s sake” in the New Testament (Matt. 19:10-12; the context is Jesus’ discussion of marriage and divorce — the disciples say, given the hard standard, it’s better not to get married, whereupon Jesus says, some are not married for a variety of reasons – and never condemns it or demands otherwise). The apostle Paul (himself a Jew, former Pharisee, and unmarried, though we do not know why) addresses those who were single and does not command marriage. In fact, he says singleness is to be preferred, but neither choice is a sin (1 Cor. 7:29-40).

This is just a sampling. There is simply ZERO ancient evidence — Jewish, Christian, or Gnostic — that Jesus was married. ZERO.