John, St. The Apostle. Born about AD 4. Was one of the earliest of Christ's disciples. During the crucifixion, Jesus commended His mother to John's care, and he "took her to his own home." John afterwards became Bishop of Ephesus. According to Tertullian, he was plunged into a caldron of boiling oil during the persecution under Domitian, but received no injury. He was subsequently exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the "Book of Revelation." He was also author of the Gospel and Epistles which bear his name. Died about A.D. 99.