John the Apostle

===Position among the apostles===
[[File:Albrecht Dürer - The Four Holy Men (John the Evangelist and Peter) - WGA7025.jpg|thumb|130px|left|''John the Evangelist and Peter'' by [[Albrecht Dürer]] (1526)]]

John is always mentioned in the [[Apostles in the New Testament#Lists of the Twelve Apostles in the New Testament|group of the first four apostles]] in the [[Gospel]]s and in the [[Book of Acts]], listed either second,<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|1:13}}</ref> third<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|3:13-19}}</ref> or fourth.<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|10:2-4}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|Lk|6:14-16}}</ref>

John, along with his brother James and [[Saint Peter|Peter]], formed an informal [[triumvirate]] among the [[Twelve Apostles]] in the Gospels. Jesus allowed them to be the only apostles present at three particular occasions during his public ministry, the [[Raising of Jairus' daughter]],<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|5:37}}</ref> [[Transfiguration of Jesus]]<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|17:1}}</ref> and [[Agony in the Garden|Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|26:37}}</ref>

Jesus sent only Peter and John into the city to make the preparation for the final [[Passover]] meal (the [[Last Supper]]).<ref>{{bibleverse|Lk|22:8}}</ref><ref>While Luke states that this is the Passover ({{bibleverse|Lk|22:7–9}}) the Gospel of John specifically states that the Passover meal occurs on the following day ({{bibleverse|Jn|18:28}})</ref>

Many traditions identify the "[[disciple whom Jesus loved]]" in the Gospel of John as the Apostle John, but this identification is debated. At the meal itself, the "disciple whom Jesus loved" sat next to Jesus. It was customary to recline on couches at meals, and this disciple leaned on Jesus.<ref name="butler">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/JOHNEVAN.HTM|title=St John The Evangelist|website=www.ewtn.com}}</ref> Tradition identifies this disciple as John.<ref name="bibleverse|Jn|13:23–25">{{bibleverse|Jn|13:23–25}}</ref>

After the arrest of Jesus in the [[Gethsemane|Garden of Gethsemane]], only Peter and the "other disciple" (according to tradition, John) followed him into the palace of the [[Caiaphas|high-priest]].<ref name=butler/> The "beloved disciple" alone, among the Apostles, remained near Jesus at the foot of the cross on [[Calvary]] alongside [[myrrhbearers]] and numerous other women. Following the instruction of Jesus from the Cross, the beloved disciple took [[Mary, the mother of Jesus]], into his care as the last legacy of Jesus.<ref>{{bibleverse|Jn|19:25–27}}</ref> Peter and John were also the only two apostles who ran to the empty tomb after [[Mary Magdalene]] bore witness to the [[resurrection of Jesus]].<ref name="bibleverse|Jn|20:1–10">{{bibleverse|Jn|20:1–10}}</ref>

After Jesus' [[Ascension of Jesus Christ|Ascension]] and the descent of the [[Holy Spirit]] at [[Pentecost]], John, together with Peter, took a prominent part in the founding and guidance of the church. He was with Peter at the healing of the lame man at [[Solomon's Porch]] in the Temple<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|3:1||Acts 3:1 ''et seq.''}}</ref> and he was also thrown into prison with Peter.<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|4:3}}</ref> Later, only Peter and John went to visit the newly converted believers in [[Samaria]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|8:14}}</ref>

While he remained in Judea and the surrounding area, the other disciples returned to Jerusalem for the [[Apostolic Council]] ({{circa|48–50 AD}}). Paul, in opposing his enemies in Galatia, explicitly recalled that John, along with Peter and [[James the Just]], were collectively recognized as the three ''[[Early Christianity#Jerusalem church|Pillars of the Church]].'' He also referred to the recognition that his Apostolic preaching of a [[Abrogation of Old Covenant laws|gospel free from Jewish Law]] was received from these three, the most prominent men of the messianic community at [[Early centers of Christianity#Jerusalem|Jerusalem]].<ref name="cathenc1">{{cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08492a.htm |title=Fonck, Leopold. "St. John the Evangelist." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 6 Feb. 2013 |publisher=Newadvent.org |date=1 October 1910 |access-date=3 May 2013}}</ref>