The son of Zebedee and brother of James. Along with James, John was called by Jesus to be one of the Twelve (Matt 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20; Luke 5:10-11) while they were fishing. His name appears in each of the apostolic lists (Matt 10:2; Mark 3:17; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13). John and James receive from Jesus the nickname “Boanerges,” meaning “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). Their prominence among the Twelve is indicated by their presence, along with Peter, at the raising of Jairus’s daughter by Jesus (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51), at the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28), and with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:37; Mark 14:33). According to (Luke 22:8), John and Peter are instructed by Jesus to make the preparations for the Passover. James and John (or their mother) ask special consideration upon the advent of the messianic kingdom (Matt 20:20-23; Mark 10:35-40). It is John who complains about the exorcist (Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49), and James and John request that the unresponsive Samaritan village be destroyed (Luke 9:54). Paul attests to John’s prominence by referring to him as one of the “pillars” of the Jerusalem church (Gal 2:6-10). John the Apostle is often identified with the Beloved Disciple referred to in the Fourth Gospel (John 13:23; John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7; John 20-24:7).
