Because John, the Apostle of Love, outlived all the other apostles, he filled a unique and patriarchal roll in the early church that lasted nearly to the end of the 1st century and reached deep into Asia Minor. His personal influence was therefore indelibly stamped on the primitive church, well into the post-apostolic era.
His family connections did not prevent James from being the first of the Apostles to be martyred.
Of the four disciples in the inner circle, Andrew appears the least contentious and the most thoughtful. He lived his whole life in the shadow of Peter, and apparently accepted that role. He was poised and comfortable introducing people to Christ because he did it often.
Peter was exactly like most Christians—both carnal and spiritual. Sometimes he was Simon, the vacillating man, and sometimes he was Peter, the apostle molded by Jesus to be the leader of the Twelve.