Home People John Mark John Mark was an early Christian who wrote the Gospel of Mark, the oldest of the four Gospels. He was a cousin of Barnabas and traveled companion to both Paul and Peter. Despite a difficult start to his ministry, he later became a valuable helper to the apostles.
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Key events When Peter was miraculously freed from prison, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had gathered for prayer.
12 Realizing this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. Gk Συνιδών τε ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὴν οἰκίαν ⸀τῆς Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς Ἰωάννου τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου Μάρκου, οὗ ἦσαν ἱκανοὶ συνηθροισμένοι καὶ προσευχόμενοι.
13 When he knocked at the outer door, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Gk κρούσαντος δὲ ⸀αὐτοῦ τὴν θύραν τοῦ πυλῶνος προσῆλθε παιδίσκη ὑπακοῦσαι ὀνόματι Ῥόδη,
14 Recognizing Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that instead of opening the gate she ran in and announced that Peter was standing outside. Gk καὶ ἐπιγνοῦσα τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ Πέτρου ἀπὸ τῆς χαρᾶς οὐκ ἤνοιξεν τὸν πυλῶνα, εἰσδραμοῦσα δὲ ἀπήγγειλεν ἑστάναι τὸν Πέτρον πρὸ τοῦ πυλῶνος.
15 "You are out of your mind," they told her. But she kept insisting it was so, and they said, "It is his angel." Gk οἱ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπαν· Μαίνῃ. ἡ δὲ διϊσχυρίζετο οὕτως ἔχειν. οἱ δὲ ἔλεγον· Ὁ ἄγγελός ⸂ἐστιν αὐτοῦ⸃.
John Mark accompanied Barnabas and Paul as a helper on their first missionary journey from Antioch.
25 When Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, taking with them John, also called Mark. Gk Βαρναβᾶς δὲ καὶ Σαῦλος ὑπέστρεψαν, ⸀εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ πληρώσαντες τὴν διακονίαν, ⸀συμπαραλαβόντες Ἰωάννην τὸν ἐπικληθέντα Μᾶρκον.
5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. John was with them as their helper. Gk καὶ γενόμενοι ἐν Σαλαμῖνι κατήγγελλον τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς τῶν Ἰουδαίων· εἶχον δὲ καὶ Ἰωάννην ὑπηρέτην.
In Perge of Pamphylia, John Mark left Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem, which later led to conflict.
13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. Gk Ἀναχθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς Πάφου οἱ ⸀περὶ Παῦλον ἦλθον εἰς Πέργην τῆς Παμφυλίας· Ἰωάννης δὲ ἀποχωρήσας ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.
Disagreement over John Mark caused Paul and Barnabas to part ways. Barnabas took his cousin Mark with him to Cyprus.
36 Some days later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." Gk Μετὰ δέ τινας ἡμέρας εἶπεν ⸂πρὸς Βαρναβᾶν Παῦλος⸃· Ἐπιστρέψαντες δὴ ἐπισκεψώμεθα τοὺς ⸀ἀδελφοὺς κατὰ ⸂πόλιν πᾶσαν⸃ ἐν αἷς κατηγγείλαμεν τὸν λόγον τοῦ κυρίου, πῶς ἔχουσιν.
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, along with them, Gk Βαρναβᾶς δὲ ⸀ἐβούλετο συμπαραλαβεῖν ⸀καὶ τὸν Ἰωάννην τὸν καλούμενον Μᾶρκον·
38 but Paul insisted that they should not take along someone who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. Gk Παῦλος δὲ ἠξίου, τὸν ἀποστάντα ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ἀπὸ Παμφυλίας καὶ μὴ συνελθόντα αὐτοῖς εἰς τὸ ἔργον, μὴ ⸀συμπαραλαμβάνειν τοῦτον.
39 The disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, Gk ἐγένετο ⸀δὲ παροξυσμὸς ὥστε ἀποχωρισθῆναι αὐτοὺς ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων, τόν τε Βαρναβᾶν παραλαβόντα τὸν Μᾶρκον ἐκπλεῦσαι εἰς Κύπρον,
40 while Paul chose Silas and set out, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. Gk Παῦλος δὲ ἐπιλεξάμενος Σιλᾶν ἐξῆλθεν παραδοθεὶς τῇ χάριτι τοῦ ⸀κυρίου ὑπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν,
Later, the relationship with Paul was restored. Paul refers to Mark as a valuable coworker and asks Timothy to bring him along.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him. Gk Ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς Ἀρίσταρχος ὁ συναιχμάλωτός μου, καὶ Μᾶρκος ὁ ἀνεψιὸς Βαρναβᾶ (περὶ οὗ ἐλάβετε ἐντολάς, ἐὰν ἔλθῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς δέξασθε αὐτόν),
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. Gk Λουκᾶς ἐστιν μόνος μετʼ ἐμοῦ. Μᾶρκον ἀναλαβὼν ἄγε μετὰ σεαυτοῦ, ἔστιν γάρ μοι εὔχρηστος εἰς διακονίαν,
Peter calls Mark his 'son', suggesting a close spiritual relationship between them. Tradition holds that the Gospel of Mark is based on Peter's testimony.
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Gk ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς ἡ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι συνεκλεκτὴ καὶ Μᾶρκος ὁ υἱός μου.
Mentioned in the Bible (17)