According to Acts 12:12, Mark’s mother Mary had a large house that was used as a meeting place for believers in Jerusalem. Peter apparently went to this house often because the servant girl recognized his voice at the gate (Acts 12:13–16). Barnabas was Mark’s cousin (Col. 4:10), but Peter may have been the person who led him to Christ (Peter called him “Mark my son,” 1 Pet. 5:13). Scripture often refers to John (also called Mark) when referencing Mark. (Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25, Acts 15:37).
The early church uniformly attested that Mark wrote this gospel. Papias, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen are among the church fathers who affirmed Marcan authorship.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45). This theme repeats many times through Mark highlighting Jesus life as service and sacrifice.
Many scholars believe that Mark was the first gospel written but the exact date is uncertain. It is also believed that this book was written to Gentiles rather than Jews mainly because of the way Mark translated Aramaic names, phrases and customs so the readers would better understand (Mark 3:17; 5:41; 7:34; 15:22).
Mark 1
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 2 just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending My messenger before You,Who will prepare Your way;3 The voice of one calling out in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way of the Lord,Make His paths straight!’” Isaiah 40:3-5, Mal 3:1 How did Mark begin his...
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Mark 2
Mar 2:1-12 (NASB) When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. (2) And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. (3) And they *came, bringing to Him a...
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Mark 3
Mark 3:1-6 NASB He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. (2) They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. (3) He *said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and come forward!" (4)...
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Mark 4
Mark 4:1-9 NASB He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. (2) And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was...
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Mark 5
Mark 5:1-13 NASB They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. (2) When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, (3) and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him...
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Mark 6
Mark 6:1-11 NASB Jesus went out from there and *came into His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him. (2) When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles...
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Mark 7
Mark 7:1-16 NASB The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, (2) and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. (3) (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands,...
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Mark 8
Mark 8:1-9 NASB In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and *said to them, (2) "I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. (3) "If I send them away hungry...
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