Mark/John Mark

The writer of the second gospel and a friend of Peter. John was his Jewish name; Mark or Marcus was his Roman name. In the New Testament, he is called Mark, John Mark, and John. Mark’s mother, Mary, lived in Jerusalem in a large house. She was a Christian, and when Mark was a young man, he met many of the early Christian leaders. Peter referred to him as “my son” because of their close friendship. Mark started out with Paul and Barnabas, a relative, on a missionary journey but did not finish it, perhaps because of homesickness or some disagreement with Paul. Mark went along with Barnabas on his next journey and proved himself. Later Paul highly recommended Mark as a good Christian worker. Mark spent some time with Paul in Rome, and it was probably there he wrote the gospel that has his name.