His father's name was Zebedee and his mother's name was Salome. He lived with his family in Bethsaida on the shores of Lake Tiberias. He joined Peter, Andrew and his own brother James, together with Philip and Nathaniel when they went down together to the Jordan Valley to John the Baptist, who was calling to repentance.
Jina la baba yake ni Zebedayo na mamake ni Salome. Aliishi na familia yake huko Bethsaida karibu na ufuo wa ziwa Tiberia. Alijiunga na Petro, Anderea na ndugu yake mwenyewe Yakobo pamoja na Filipo na Nathanieli walipotelemka pamoja kwenye bonde la mto Jorodani kumwona Yohana Mbatizaji akiwa akiita watu kutubu.