John
(1.) One who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment on the apostles Peter and John (Acts 4:6). He was of the kindred of the high priest; otherwise unknown.
(2.) The Hebrew name of Mark (q.v.). He is designated by this name in the acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25; Acts 13:5, Acts 13:13; Acts 15:37).
(3.) THE APOSTLE, brother of James the “Greater” (Matt 4:21; Matt 10:2; Mark 1:19; Mark 3:17; Mark 10:35). He was one, probably the younger, of the sons of Zebedee (Matt 4:21) and Salome (Matt 27:56; comp. Mark 15:40), and was born at Bethsaida. His father was apparently a man of some wealth (comp. Mark 1:20; Luke 5:3; John 19:27). He was doubtless trained in all that constituted the ordinary education of Jewish youth. When he grew up he followed the occupation of a fisherman on the Lake of Galilee. When John the Baptist began his ministry in the wilderness of Judea, John, with many others, gathered round him, and was deeply influenced by his teaching. There he heard the announcement, “Behold the Lamb of God,” and forthwith, on the invitation of Jesus, became a disciple and ranked among his followers (John 1:36, John 1:37) for a time. He and his brother then returned to their former avocation, for how long is uncertain. Jesus again called them (Matt 4:1–25: 21; Luke 5:1–11), and now they left all and permanently attached themselves to the company of his disciples. He became one of the innermost circle (Mark 5:37; Matt 17:1; Matt 26:37; Mark 13:3). He was the disciple whom Jesus loved. In zeal and intensity of character he was a “Boanerges” (Mark 3:17). This spirit once and again broke out (Matt 20:20–24; Mark 10:35–41; Luke 9:49, Luke 9:54). At the betrayal he and Peter follow Christ afar off, while the others betake themselves to hasty flight (John 18:15). At the trial he follows Christ into the council chamber, and thence to the praetorium (John 18:16, John 18:19, John 18:28) and to the place of crucifixion (John 19:26, John 19:27). To him and Peter, Mary first conveys tidings of the resurrection (John 20:2), and they are the first to go and see what her strange words mean. After the resurrection he and Peter again return to the Sea of Galilee, where the Lord reveals himself to them (John 21:1, John 21:7). We find Peter and John frequently after this together (Acts 3:1; Acts 4:13). John remained apparently in Jerusalem as the leader of the church there (Acts 15:6; Gal 2:9). His subsequent history is unrecorded. He was not there, however, at the time of Paul’s last visit (Acts 21:15–40). He appears to have retired to Ephesus, but at what time is unknown. The seven churches of Asia were the objects of his special care (Rev 1:11). He suffered under persecution, and was banished to Patmos (Rev 1:9); whence he again returned to Ephesus, where he died, probably about A.D. 98, having outlived all or nearly all the friends and companions even of his maturer years. There are many interesting traditions regarding John during his residence at Ephesus, but these cannot claim the character of historical truth.
Named in the Bible
The first 20 of 117 verses
- Matthew 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
- Matthew 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
- Matthew 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
- Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
- Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
- Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
- Matthew 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
- Matthew 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
- Matthew 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
- Matthew 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
- Matthew 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
- Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
- Matthew 14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
- Matthew 14:4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
- Matthew 14:8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
- Matthew 14:10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
- Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
- Matthew 21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
- Matthew 21:26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
- Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.
