(1) Belonged to Wealthy Class. We also find that John received Mary into his house after the death of Jesus. Since this house seems to have been situated at Jerusalem ("from that hour," John xix:27), it would appear that he was the owner of two houses. John's acquaintance. also, with the high-priest (xviii :t5) seems to indicate that he lived at Jerusalem, and belonged to the wealthier class.
(2) Religiously Inclined. We may suppoce that from a tender age he nourished religious feel ings, since Salome, who evinced so much love for Jesus, probably fostered at an earlier period those hopes of a Nlessiah which she expresses in Matt. xx :2o; and we find that he entered into communion with the Baptist from pure motives. The occupation, also, of a fisherman was adapted to promote holy meditations, since it would fre quently lead him to pass whole nights in still ness upon the water, amid a charming country similar to the environs of the lake of Maggiore.
(3) Called by John the Baptist. On the banks of the Jordan the Baptist directed John to Jesus, and he immediately became the Lord's dis ciple, and accompanied him on his return to Galilee. Having arrived there, he at first resumed his trade, but was afterwards called to remain permanently with the Redeemer (Luke v :5-to). Jesus was particularly attached to John (John xiii :23; xix :26; xx :2 ,.rxxi :7), 1.1..ho was one of the three who were distinguished above the other Apostles (Matt. xvii:t ; xxvi :37; Mark v:37).
(4) Apostleship. After the ascension, John abode at Jerusalem, where Paul met him on his th/rd journey, about the year 52 (Cral. ii:3-o).
Since he had undertaken the care of the mother nf Jesti. we cannot well suppose that he left Jerusalem before Mary's death; and, indeed, we Hist. Eccles. v. 24). According to Eusebius (Hist. Eccles. iii:2o, 23), he returned from exile during the reign of Nerva.
(6) Epistles. The three epistles of John, as also the affecting account concerning his fidelity as a spiritual pastor, given by Clemens Alexan drinus (Quis Dives Salvust ch. 52), testify that he was the pastor of a large diocese. John's second epistle, verse 12, and third epistle, verse 14, indicate that he made journeys of pastoral visitation.
(7) Death. John died at Ephesus past the age of ninety, in the reign of the Emperor Trajan. According to Jerome, he was a hundred years old, and according to Suidas, a hundred and twenty.
Jerome (Comm. ad Gal. iii, p. 314, mart.) re lates that when John had attained a great age he was so feeble that he could not walk to the as semblies of the church ; he, therefore, caused him self to be carried in by young men. He was no longer able to say much, but he constantly repeated the words, 'Little children, love one an other.' On being asked why he constantly re peated this one saying, he replied: 'Because it is the command of the Lord; and enough is done if this is done.' (French, Life and Character of John the Evangelist; Stanley, Sermons and Es says on the Apost.