I've been reading through the Acts of the Apostles, and wanted to finalise some notes I had been making (mostly mental) on people and places, and incorporate some of what I remember Chuck Swindoll telling me decades ago about John Mark.
As far as we know, Mark the Evangelist never met Jesus the Christ in person. But he did spend much time with St Peter; in fact many believe his Gospel account has as a primary source Peter himself.
At the time of Dr Luke's writing his two volume set of Luke/Acts, Mark's mother Mary had been hosting prayer meetings in her home for some time. Peter, after escaping from prison in Acts 12, heads to that home to let the brothers know he is alive and well. Later in that same chapter, Mark leaves with Barnabas and Saul on their next missionary trip, acting as a sort of scribe. For some reason though, Mark leaves the two senior apologists at Perga, and returns to Jerusalem.
As a result, Paul was steadfast in his rejection of John Mark for the next missionary journey. This caused Barnabas to take cousin Mark with him to Cyprus, while Paul took Silas to Derbe and Lystra.
Paul mentions John Mark at the end of his letter to the Colossians, including greetings from him, Justus, Epaphras, and Aristarchus.
Paul's final remarks in Philemon include greetings from Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, "my co-workers."
According to Tradition, John Mark was the first Bishop of the Church in Alexandria.
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