Easton's Bible Dictionary

He became one of the innermost circle (Mark 5:37; Matthew 17:1; 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 (Matthew 20:20-24; Mark 10:35-41; Luke 9:49, 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 (18:16, 19, 28) and to
the place of crucifixion (19:26, 27). To him and Peter, Mary first conveys
tidings of the resurrection (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 (21:1, 7). We
find Peter and John frequently after this together (Acts 3:1; 4:13). John
remained apparently in Jerusalem as the leader of the church there (Acts
15:6; Galatians 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 (Revelation 1:11). He
suffered under persecution, and was banished to Patmos (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.