As apostles of Jesus Peter, James, and John witnessed many miracles and teachings when they were with Jesus. They were called by Jesus to follow him and witness, first hand, the teachings that Jesus had to share. These men are considered part of Jesus' inner circle because they were some of the closest to him and made some of the biggest impacts to Christianity.
Jesus was closet to Peter, John, and James.
Peter, James, & John
Jesus chose to take Peter, John, and James with him during certain significant events in his ministry because they were considered his closest and most trusted disciples. These three disciples were present during key moments such as the Transfiguration and the raising of Jairus' daughter, indicating their importance in Jesus' inner circle.
One of the companions of St. Peter was St. Paul, who played a significant role in spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. Another companion was St. John, who was part of Jesus' inner circle and wrote several books of the Bible.
St. Peter, or Peter the apostle (as he is called in the New Testament) was one of Jesus' 12 disciples, and also one of Jesus' "inner circle" of 3 disciples, Peter, James and John. Jesus took these three with him up the mountain to the transfiguration (Matthew 17) As Jesus predicted, Peter betrayed Jesus by denying him, and was 'reinstated' by Jesus after the resurrection.
The three closest disciples to Jesus were Peter, James, and John. They were part of his inner circle and often accompanied him during important events, such as the Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter was known for his leadership and was considered the rock on which the church would be built. James and John were brothers and were known as the "Sons of Thunder" for their zeal and passion. They were all key figures in spreading Jesus' teachings and establishing the early Christian church.
Jesus' closest friends were his twelve apostles, particularly Peter, James, and John, who formed his inner circle. After his resurrection, these apostles became key figures in spreading the good news about Jesus, establishing early Christian communities and sharing his teachings throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. Their efforts laid the foundation for Christianity as a global religion.
The other two disciples with Peter on the mountain during the Transfiguration were James and John. These three, often referred to as the "inner circle," were selected by Jesus to witness this significant event where He was transformed and appeared in radiant glory alongside Moses and Elijah. This moment highlighted the divine nature of Jesus and His fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.
As God and Jesus are no respecter of persons, all who have ever existed and will exist are His best friends. We are all His brothers and sisters and He loves us all equally and has no favorites. However, Jesus, like many of us, had an inner circle within the disciples. John, Peter and James were known to be his intimate buddies. He asked them to go with Him on the mountain when He was transfigured and when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane.
John the Apostle became a saint primarily due to his close relationship with Jesus Christ, being one of the twelve apostles and part of Jesus' inner circle. He is traditionally credited with authoring several New Testament texts, including the Gospel of John, which emphasizes Christ's divinity and love. His unwavering faith, leadership in the early Christian church, and martyrdom further solidified his status as a revered figure, leading to his canonization as a saint in recognition of his contributions to Christianity and his exemplary life.
I don't know about them being referred to as "the circle", but the three disciples of the twelve that Jesus took with him to certain places, like the Mountain of Transfiguration, Garden of Gethsemane, etc. were Simon Peter, James, and John. (Matthew 17)
James the Greater, also known as James the son of Zebedee, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. He was part of Jesus' inner circle along with Peter and John, and was present at significant events such as the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden. James the Greater was the first apostle to be martyred for his faith, being executed by King Herod Agrippa I in AD 44.