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Person · Tribe of Levi

Mark

Levite living at the time of the New Testament

Mark (also called John), Barnabas' cousin and Paul's companion, was the author of the Gospel of Mark.

🗺 Places mentioned alongside Mark on the map →

Also known as Marcus · John

Mark, also known as John Mark, was a prominent figure in the early Christian church. He was the son of Mary, whose house in Jerusalem served as a meeting place for the believers (Act.12.12). Mark was also the cousin of Barnabas (Col.4.10) and accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Act.12.25; 13.5). However, he left them at Perga and returned to Jerusalem (Act.13.13), which later caused a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas (Act.15.37-39). Despite this, Mark remained active in ministry, as evidenced by Paul's later references to him as a fellow worker (Phm.1.24; 2Ti.4.11). He also worked closely with Peter, who referred to him as "my son Mark" (1Pe.5.13). Tradition holds that Mark wrote the Gospel that bears his name based on Peter's teachings, making it one of the earliest written accounts of Jesus' life and ministry.

Family

Father
husband of Mary
Mother
Mary

Connections

Part of: Paul's Circle · Bethany and the Women Around Jesus · The Jerusalem Church

John Mark is Barnabas's cousin

FamilyStated in the text

Paul writes that Mark is the cousin (anepsios) of Barnabas. Mark's mother Mary hosted a Jerusalem prayer gathering, and Barnabas took Mark along on the first journey and again after the split with Paul. The family tie explains Barnabas's loyalty to Mark.

BarnabasBrother of MaryMarkPaul's companian
Where the text shows it: Colossians 4:10 — Mark, cousin of BarnabasActs 12:12 — Mark's mother Mary and her house in JerusalemActs 15:37-39 — Barnabas insists on taking Mark

Sources: Scripture

The split over Mark and later reconciliation

WorkStated in the text

Paul and Barnabas parted sharply over taking Mark on the second journey. Yet Paul later lists Mark among his co-workers and asks for him as useful for ministry, so the breach over Mark was healed.

PaulAn apostleBarnabasBrother of MaryMarkPaul's companian
Where the text shows it: Acts 15:36-41 — Sharp disagreement; Barnabas takes Mark to Cyprus, Paul takes SilasColossians 4:10 — Paul tells the Colossians to welcome Mark2 Timothy 4:11 — Mark is useful to Paul for ministryPhilemon 1:24 — Mark named among Paul's fellow workers

Sources: Scripture

Peter goes straight to Mark's family home

FriendsStated in the text

After his release from prison, Peter went to the house of Mary, mother of John who was called Mark, where many were praying. Peter closes 1 Peter calling Mark his son, which suggests a long association.

PeterAn apostleMarkPaul's companianMaryBarnabus' relative
Where the text shows it: Acts 12:12 — Peter goes to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark1 Peter 5:13 — Peter sends greetings from Mark, "my son"

Sources: Scripture

Mark as Peter's interpreter

Teacher & studentChurch tradition

A tradition reported by Eusebius from Papias (citing "the elder") says Mark, as Peter's interpreter, wrote down accurately what Peter taught, though not in order. Modern scholars weigh how far the Gospel of Mark reflects Peter's preaching.

MarkPaul's companianPeterAn apostle
Where the text shows it: 1 Peter 5:13 — Earliest NT link between Peter and MarkActs 12:12 — Peter's early connection to Mark's household
Ways people read this (3)
  • Church tradition: Mark composed his Gospel from Peter's preaching in Rome.
  • Some critical scholars see the Papias note as apologetic and Mark as drawing on several traditions.
  • Others accept a real Petrine link while allowing wider sources.

Sources: Eusebius, Church History 3.39 (citing Papias)

Is Mark the young man who fled naked?

FriendsHypothesis

Only Mark records a young man wearing a linen cloth who fled naked at Jesus' arrest. Since Mark alone tells it and the incident has no other narrative role, some have suggested it is the author's signature. Nothing in the text says so.

MarkPaul's companianJesusSon of Joseph
Where the text shows it: Mark 14:51-52 — The young man in a linen cloth flees nakedActs 12:12 — The family home of Mark in Jerusalem (possible Last Supper or Gethsemane connection)
Ways people read this (3)
  • Proposed: the young man is Mark, whose family home may have hosted the Last Supper.
  • Others: an anonymous bystander, or a literary symbol of abandonment and stripped discipleship.
  • The text gives no name.

Sources: Scripture

Lazarus as the Beloved Disciple?

FriendsHypothesis

John 11 says Jesus loved Lazarus and calls him "he whom you love". Later the Beloved Disciple appears only after John 13. Some see Lazarus there. Early tradition (Irenaeus) names John the apostle.

LazarusMary's brotherJohnAn apostleMarkPaul's companian
Where the text shows it: John 11:3 — He whom you love is illJohn 13:23 — Disciple whom Jesus lovedJohn 21:20-24 — Disciple who wrote these things
Ways people read this (4)
  • John son of Zebedee (Irenaeus and most traditions).
  • Lazarus (Filson and others), since he is the only man said to be loved.
  • John Mark, or an otherwise unnamed Judean disciple.
  • A literary ideal figure.

Sources: Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.1.1 · Floyd Filson, Journal of Biblical Literature (1949)

More background: search Wikipedia ↗

Bible dictionary

Mark Easton Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897)

The evangelist; “John whose surname was Mark” (Acts 12:12, 25). Mark (Marcus, Col. 4:10, etc.) was his Roman name, which gradually came to supersede his Jewish name John. He is called John in Acts 13:5, 13, and Mark in 15:39, 2 Tim. 4:11, etc. He was the son of Mary, a woman apparently of some means and influence, and was probably born in Jerusalem, where his mother resided (Acts 12:12). Of his father we know nothing. He was cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10). It was in his mother’s house that Peter found “many gathered together praying” when he was released from prison; and it is probable that it was here that he was converted by Peter, who calls him his “son” (1 Pet. 5:13). It is probable that the “young man” spoken of in Mark 14:51, 52 was Mark himself. He is first mentioned in Acts 12:25. He went with Paul and Barnabas on their first journey (about A.D. 47) as their “minister,” but from some cause turned back when they reached Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 12:25; 13:13). Three years afterwards a “sharp contention” arose between Paul and Barnabas (15:36-40), because Paul would not take Mark with him. He, however, was evidently at length reconciled to the apostle, for he was with him in his first imprisonment at Rome (Col. 4:10; Philemon 1:24). At a later period he was with Peter in Babylon (1 Pet. 5:13), then, and for some centuries afterwards, one of the chief seats of Jewish learning; and he was with Timothy in Ephesus when Paul wrote him during his second imprisonment (2 Tim. 4:11). He then disappears from view.

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Mark Smith Smith’s Bible Dictionary (1863)

one of the evangelists, and probable author of the Gospel bearing his name. (Marcus was his Latin surname. His Jewish name was John, which is the same as Johanan (the grace of God). We can almost trace the steps whereby the former became his prevalent name in the Church. “John, whose surname was Mark” in (Acts 12:12,25; 15:37) becomes “John” alone in (Acts 13:5,13) “Mark” in (Acts 15:39) and thenceforward there is no change. (Colossians 4:10); Phlm 1:24; 2Tim 4:11 The evangelist was the son of a certain Mary, a Jewish matron of some position who dwelt in Jerusalem, (Acts 12:12) and was probably born of a Hellenistic family in that city. Of his father we know nothing; but we do know that the future evangelist was cousin of Barnabas of Cyprus, the great friend of St. Paul. His mother would seem to have been intimately acquainted with St. Peter, and it was to her house, as to a familiar home, that the apostle repaired, A.D. 44, after his deliverance from prison (Acts 12:12) This fact accounts for St. Mark’s intimate acquaintance with that apostle, to whom also he probably owed his conversion, for St. Peter calls him his son. (1 Peter 5:13) We hear Of him for the first time in Acts 15:25 where we find him accompanying and Barnabas on their return from Jerusalem to Antioch, A.D. 45. He next comes before us on the occasion of the earliest missionary journey of the same apostles, A.D. 48, when he joined them as their “minister.” (Acts 13:8) With them he visited Cyprus; but at Perga in Pamphylia, (Acts 13:13) when they were about to enter upon the more arduous part of their mission, he left them, and, for some unexplained reason, returned to Jerusalem to his mother and his home. Notwithstanding this, we find him at Paul’s side during that apostle’s first imprisonment at Rome…

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Mark Hitchcock Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary (1869)

same as Marcus

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Mark Hastings Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible (1898)

MARK, or JOHN MARK, as he is also called, Acts 12:12, Gal 4:25; Acts 15:37, was a Jew, probably a native of Jerusalem, where his mother, Mary, resided. Acts 12:12. She was a person of some repute among the early Christians, as Peter, when released from prison, naturally went to her house. Mark was probably converted through that apostle, who calls him "his son." 1 Pet 5:13, and the minute account of the young man who followed Jesus on the night of the betrayal, Mark 14:51-52, together with the omission of the name, points to the evangelist as the person concerned. Going with Paul and Barnabas, who was his cousin. Col 4:10, as their minister, Acts 12:25, on their first missionary journey, he left them at Perga, Acts 13:13, and in consequence became, the occasion of "sharp contention" between them. Acts 15:36-40. Afterward he appears as a companion of Paul in Rome. Col 4:10; Phile 24. He was with Peter when that apostle wrote his first Epistle, 1 Pet 5:13, but was at Ephesus with Timothy at a date probably later. 2 Tim 4:11. Respecting his after-life trustworthy details are wanting, but ancient writers agree in speaking of him as the "interpreter" of Peter, which may mean that he translated for the apostle, but more probably means that he wrote his Gospel in close conformity to Peter's preaching. According to the unanimous testimony of antiquity, the second Gospel in our canon was written by Mark, and numerous details of the work indicate the close relation between its author and Peter. Many events are recorded as if from the lips of an eye-witness, and some have suggested that the Gospel is based upon a diary of Peter, sketching his fresh impressions of events as they occurred. The style shows the influence of that apostle. Peter's address to Cornelius, Acts 10, has…

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Mark Schaff Schaff’s Dictionary of the Bible

MARK, or JOHN MARK, as he is also called, Acts 12:12, Gal 4:25; Acts 15:37, was a Jew, probably a native of Jerusalem, where his mother, Mary, resided. Acts 12:12. She was a person of some repute among the early Christians, as Peter, when released from prison, naturally went to her house. Mark was probably converted through that apostle, who calls him "his son." 1 Pet 5:13, and the minute account of the young man who followed Jesus on the night of the betrayal, Mark 14:51-52, together with the omission of the name, points to the evangelist as the person concerned. Going with Paul and Barnabas, who was his cousin. Col 4:10, as their minister, Acts 12:25, on their first missionary journey, he left them at Perga, Acts 13:13, and in consequence became, the occasion of "sharp contention" between them. Acts 15:36-40. Afterward he appears as a companion of Paul in Rome. Col 4:10; Phile 24. He was with Peter when that apostle wrote his first Epistle, 1 Pet 5:13, but was at Ephesus with Timothy at a date probably later. 2 Tim 4:11. Respecting his after-life trustworthy details are wanting, but ancient writers agree in speaking of him as the "interpreter" of Peter, which may mean that he translated for the apostle, but more probably means that he wrote his Gospel in close conformity to Peter's preaching. According to the unanimous testimony of antiquity, the second Gospel in our canon was written by Mark, and numerous details of the work indicate the close relation between its author and Peter. Many events are recorded as if from the lips of an eye-witness, and some have suggested that the Gospel is based upon a diary of Peter, sketching his fresh impressions of events as they occurred. The style shows the influence of that apostle. Peter's address to Cornelius, Acts 10, has…

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Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.

Where Mark appears

10 verses in 5 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G3138

Acts6
Colossians1
2 Timothy1
Philemon1
1 Peter1

Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.