Mark

Identity

John Mark is the young man of Jerusalem whose mother's house was one of the first Christian meeting places (Acts 12:12); the cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10); companion of Paul on the first missionary journey; the young man who abandoned that journey at Perga and later reconciled; and the traditional interpreter of Peter who preserved the second Gospel.

Name and titles

'John' — Yochanan — 'The LORD is gracious.' 'Mark' — Marcus — a common Roman name he took, perhaps for missionary purposes among Latin speakers. Called by Peter 'Marcus my son' (1 Peter 5:13).

Historical period

• c. AD 30 — His mother's house is one of the first Christian gathering places in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12).
• c. AD 46-48 — Joins Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:5).
• c. AD 46 — Departs the journey at Perga; goes back to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
• c. AD 49 — Cause of the sharp division between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39); goes to Cyprus with Barnabas.
• c. AD 60 — With Paul in Rome during first Roman imprisonment (Col 4:10; Phm 24).
• c. AD 60-65 — Writes the second Gospel (from Peter's preaching, per Papias c. 130 in Eusebius, Church History III.39).
• c. AD 66 — 'Take Mark, and bring him with thee' (2 Tim 4:11) — reconciled with Paul.
• c. AD 62 or later — Traditional founder of the Alexandrian church (Eusebius, Church History II.16).
• c. AD 68 — Martyred at Alexandria (Coptic tradition).

Scripture appearances

• Acts 12:12 (KJV) '…he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark.'
• Acts 13:5 (KJV) 'And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.'
• Acts 13:13 (KJV) '…and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.'
• Acts 15:37-39 (KJV) The dispute over taking Mark; Paul and Barnabas part.
• Colossians 4:10 (KJV) 'Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas.'
• 2 Timothy 4:11 (KJV) 'Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.'
• 1 Peter 5:13 (KJV) 'The church that is at Babylon… saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.'

Connected Places

• Jerusalem — his mother's house.
• Antioch — the sending church.
• Cyprus — his second missionary journey.
• Rome — with Peter and Paul.
• Alexandria — the see traditional to him.
• Egypt — the wider region of his final ministry.

Connected People

• Peter — 'my son' (1 Pet 5:13); source of the second Gospel.
• Barnabas — his cousin.
• Paul — with whom he reconciled.
• Christ Jesus — whom his Gospel proclaims.

Salvation history role

• The evangelist who preserved Peter's memory of Christ.
• The model of a young Christian who failed on his first mission and later became indispensable.
• The founder (per tradition) of one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.

Christian tradition

• Feast: 25 April (Western); 8 May and 30 January (Coptic).
• Iconographic emblem: the lion (from Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4).
• The Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria traces its succession to him.
• The Basilica of San Marco in Venice (built to hold his relics translated from Alexandria in 828) is one of the great Christian basilicas of the West.

Household reflection

Mark teaches the household that Christian failure is not final. He walked away from the first missionary journey. Years later he was 'profitable to me for the ministry' (2 Tim 4:11).

Every young household member who has stumbled needs to hear Mark's second half.

Room connections

Where this entry meets the household in the wider house of CrossAIHub.

• Read (Library) — Read the Gospel of Mark in one sitting — it is the shortest and swiftest Gospel.
• Pray (Chapel) — On his feast (25 April), pray for young Christians who need a second chance.
• Family (Kitchen Table) — On his feast, keep an Alexandrian-flavoured meal — a nod to his Coptic tradition.
• Sing (Choir Room) — Sing 'Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim' (Charles Wesley, 1744).
• Learn (Workshop) — Study Papias's testimony (in Eusebius, Church History III.39.15) that Mark wrote Peter's preaching.

Further reading

The Gospel of Mark in the KJV.

Papias (via Eusebius) on Mark's authorship.

Eusebius, Church History II.16 (Mark at Alexandria).

Elsewhere in the Atlas

• Peter
• Paul
• Barnabas
• Alexandria
• Cyprus
• Return to the atrium — the Atlas's main room.