The husband of Salome, and father of James and John the apostles. He was a fisherman in comfortable circumstances, on the west shore of the sea of Galilee, and readily spared his two sons at the call of the Savior, Mark 1:19,20 . His wife also attended Christ, and ministered to him of her substance. See SALOME .

His son John was personally known to the high-priest, and was charged by the dying Savior with the care of his mother, John 18:15,16 19:26 .