John Mark
A member of the Jerusalem church who, in Acts, left Paul’s first journey early and was the cause of the break between Paul and Barnabas. Colossians calls a Mark the cousin of Barnabas, and early tradition names Mark, Peter’s interpreter, as author of the second Gospel.
Acts speaks of “John who was called Mark”. His mother Mary had a house in Jerusalem where the believers met, and to which Peter went on his escape from prison (Acts 12:12). He went with Barnabas and Paul to Cyprus as their assistant, but left them at Perga and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:5, 13). Paul refused to take him again, and the quarrel that followed parted Paul and Barnabas; Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus (Acts 15:37–39). See Paul’s First Missionary Journey.
Letters in Paul’s name mention a Mark who is the cousin of Barnabas, a fellow worker, and “useful” to him (Colossians 4:10) (Philemon 24) (2 Timothy 4:11), and 1 Peter sends greetings from “Mark, my son” (1 Peter 5:13). Papias, a bishop of the early second century quoted by Eusebius, reports a tradition that Mark became Peter’s interpreter and wrote down what he remembered of the Lord’s words and deeds (Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15). The New Testament does not say that all these references are to one man, though they have generally been read so. On the Gospel see the Four Gospels Are Written.
In the timeline
- about AD 46 to AD 48, estimated datePaul’s First Missionary Journey
Acts tells how Barnabas and Paul, sent out by the church at Antioch, preach in Cyprus and in the cities of southern Asia Minor, first in the synagogues and then to Gentiles, and found churches there before returning to Antioch.
- about AD 65 to AD 100, estimated dateThe Four Gospels Are Written
Four accounts of the words, deeds, death and resurrection of Jesus are written, on the usual dating, in the later first century. None names its author; the names Matthew, Mark, Luke and John come from second-century testimony.