Bible Characters · Gospels
John, the apostle
The disciple whom Jesus loved, who leaned against him at the supper, stood at the cross and received his mother, ran to the empty tomb, and wrote the fourth Gospel and the Revelation.
The facts, as Scripture gives them
- Lived
- Dates not given in Scripture.
- Region
- Galilee, then Jerusalem; he received the Revelation on the island of Patmos. (Matthew 4:21; Revelation 1:9)
- The name
- Jesus surnamed him and his brother James Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder. (Mark 3:17)
- Work
- A fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. (Matthew 4:21)
Key verses
One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.
John 13:23 (BSB)
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
John 21:24 (BSB)
What they did
- Left the nets and his father at Jesus' call, with his brother James. (Matthew 4:21-22)
- Was in the inner three at the raising of Jairus's daughter, the Transfiguration, and Gethsemane. (Mark 5:37; Matthew 17:1; Matthew 26:37)
- Reclined next to Jesus at the supper and leaned back to ask who would betray him. (John 13:23-25)
- Stood at the cross, and from that hour took Jesus' mother into his own home. (John 19:26-27)
- Outran Peter to the tomb, saw the linen cloths, and believed. (John 20:2-8)
- With Peter healed the lame man at the temple gate and spoke boldly before the council. (Acts 3:1-11; Acts 4:13-20)
- Identified himself as the disciple who testifies to these things and has written them down. (John 21:24)
- On Patmos for the word of God, received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9-11)
Family
- Father
- Zebedee (Matthew 4:21)
- Siblings
- James (Matthew 4:21)
Connected to
- James: His brother and fellow apostle (Matthew 4:21)
- Peter: His fellow apostle, with whom he ran to the tomb (John 20:2-8)
- Mary: Jesus' mother, given into his care from the cross (John 19:26-27)
- Jesus: His Lord, whose beloved disciple he was (John 13:23)
Mentioned in
Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Galatians, Revelation.
Every reference (35)
Matthew 4:21 · Matthew 10:2 · Matthew 17:1 · Mark 1:19 · Mark 1:29 · Mark 3:17 · Mark 5:37 · Mark 9:2 · Mark 9:38 · Mark 10:35 · Mark 10:41 · Mark 13:3 · Mark 14:33 · Luke 5:10 · Luke 6:14 · Luke 8:51 · Luke 9:28 · Luke 9:49 · Luke 9:54 · Luke 22:8 · Acts 1:13 · Acts 3:1 · Acts 3:3 · Acts 3:4 · Acts 3:11 · Acts 4:13 · Acts 4:19 · Acts 8:14 · Acts 12:2 · Galatians 2:9 · Revelation 1:1 · Revelation 1:4 · Revelation 1:9 · Revelation 21:2 · Revelation 22:8
Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend profile passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This profile is in that queue. Sources: Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain), verified verse by verse. Name and reference data: STEP Bible (TIPNR), Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0.