Apostles James and John stayed in Jerusalem after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Their mother who had supported Jesus’ mission had probably gone back to Galilee to care for her husband Zebedee.
Simon was given the new name of Peter by Jesus and appointed as head of the early church of Jerusalem. Peter generally went around with John. John’s brother James was martyred early on. The apostle James was beheaded under orders from Herod Agrippa in AD 44 for following The Way. James, the brother of Jesus also remained living in Jerusalem and was prominent in administration of the early church.
Mary lived in the household of John, and not the household of brother James in Jerusalem – if Jesus’ brother James had been Mary’s actual son, she would have lived in his house. John and Mary lived in the old Christian quarter of Mount Zion.
Mary’s age
Jesus was born in 5 BC (this will be explained in a later article). He was crucified in 33 AD and so would be aged 37. If Mary was aged 25 when she gave birth to Jesus, then she would be 62 when he was crucified.
Mary must have died just before the Apostolic Council held in Jerusalem took place in AD 51. (All of the apostles were present at the death of Mary according to The Passing of Mary. This could only be the case if they had returned from mission to Jerusalem for the council). This would mean that Mary was aged 80 when she died. Tradition embodied in the Church of the Dormition on Mount Zion tells us that Mary passed away peacefully of natural causes. She fell asleep.
John, the youngest apostle who may have started following Jesus aged 12 and only been 15 when Jesus died. He left Jerusalem after Mary died and after the Council of 51 AD aged only 33 to evangelize in Ephesus.
Merry and True 