Mark

Biblical Record

Mark first appears in Acts as "John, whose surname was Mark." "John" is his Jewish name, and "Mark" is his Roman name (Latin Marcus).

• The house in Jerusalem: After his release from prison, Peter goes to "the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark," where many had gathered to pray (Acts 12:12).
• The first missionary journey: Barnabas and Paul took him with them (Acts 12:25), and he served as their assistant (Acts 13:5). At Perga in Pamphylia, however, he left them and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
• The dispute between Paul and Barnabas: Before the next journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark along, but Paul objected because Mark had deserted them partway through. After a sharp disagreement, the two parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, while Paul departed with Silas (Acts 15:37-40).
• References in the Epistles: Colossians 4:10 identifies Mark as a relative of Barnabas; the New Korean Revised Version renders the relationship as "nephew," while the New Korean Standard Version renders it as "cousin." In Philemon 1:24 he is named as one of Paul's fellow laborers. In 2 Timothy 4:11 Paul writes, "Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." In 1 Peter 5:13 Peter refers to him as "Marcus my son."

Significance in Scripture

Though not an apostle, Mark assisted Paul, Barnabas, and Peter alike, illustrating the connections among the ministers of the early church. His abandonment of the mission partway through led to the separation of Paul and Barnabas, yet he later regained Paul's approval. For this reason, his story is often read as an account of restoration and reconciliation after failure.

Interpretation and Debated Points

• Authorship of the Gospel of Mark: The text of the Gospel of Mark does not name its author. In the second century, Papias reported that Mark, as Peter's interpreter, recorded Peter's teaching. This testimony is preserved in Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History. Many churches accept this tradition. Some scholars, however, remain cautious about whether the John Mark of Acts is the same person as the Gospel's author, and whether the "Mark" mentioned in the various epistles is a single individual.
• The young man of Mark 14:51-52: Some identify Mark himself as the young man who left the linen cloth behind and fled naked when Jesus was arrested. The text does not say who the young man was.
• The upper room: A tradition holds that the upper room where the Last Supper took place, or where the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, was in the house of Mark's mother. Scripture does not explicitly link the two places.
• Later traditions: Traditions hold that Mark founded the church of Alexandria and that his remains were later moved to Venice. In church art, the winged lion serves as Mark's symbol. All of these are extrabiblical traditions.

In the Korean Church

In Korean church preaching, Mark is frequently presented as an example of "one who failed but was used again." Acts 15 and 2 Timothy 4:11 are often read together, with emphasis also placed on Barnabas, who continued to embrace Mark despite his failure. The phrase "Mark's upper room," common in the Korean church, refers to prayer meetings or experiences of the Holy Spirit. This usage draws on the tradition mentioned above.