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Mentioned in the Bible by name
John Mark

Time-period: ❼ Jesus - (0-100 e.Kr.)
Age: -
Alt. names/spellings: John, Mark, Johanan



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Usage in the Bible


Johanan H3110
יוֹחָנָן (Jochanan)
22 times in OT
John G2491
Ἰωάννης (Ioannes)
135 times in NT
Mark G3138
Μάρκος (Markos)
8 times in NT
Total    165 times

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References (10)

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Act 12:12
  Interlinear
When he had considered what to do [realized that he was truly free, standing there alone on the street and needing to go somewhere], he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was called Mark. There were many gathered there praying.
[Mary was a relative of Barnabas, see Col. 4:10. Her son Mark accompanied Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey, see Acts 12:25; 13:5, 13. According to early tradition, Mark is also the author of the Gospel of Mark.]
Act 12:25
  Interlinear
When Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission in Jerusalem [delivering the financial gifts, see Acts 11:29–30], they returned [to Antioch] and took with them John, who was called Mark.
Act 13:5
  Interlinear
When they arrived at Salamis [the island's commercial center along the southeast coast], they began to preach the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. [Salamis was a large city with a significant Jewish population. Luke's precise choice of words (synagogues in the plural) confirms this and also indicates that they stayed there for several Sabbaths.] They also had John [Mark] with them as an assistant (helper).
[The boat trip between Seleucia and Salamis took two days. Barnabas was born in Cyprus, which may have contributed to the island being the first destination of the journey, see Acts 4:36. Until Acts 13:13, his name is mentioned before Saul's, and he seems to be the one who is initially in charge. It was probably also Barnabas' idea to bring his cousin, John Mark, see Col. 4:10. He had accompanied Barnabas and Saul from Jerusalem, see Acts 12:12, 25. This Mark later became the author of the Gospel of Mark.]
Act 13:13
  Interlinear
Paul [now mentioned first] and his companions [Barnabas and John Mark] sailed from Paphos [on Cyprus] to Perga in [the Roman province] Pamphylia.
[The journey took 3-4 days. Perga was the capital of the province of Pamphylia and was located a few kilometers inland. If the boat docked at the port city of Attaleia (today's Antalya on the southern coast of Turkey), they traveled 15 km overland to Perge. If the boat had cargo for Perge, they sailed all the way along the Kestros River. They seem to have made only a short stop in Perge, but on the return journey they stopped and preached in both Perge and Attaleia, see Acts 14:25.]
There John [Mark] left them and returned to Jerusalem.
[Something happened that caused John Mark to leave them and return to Jerusalem. Paul writes that he encountered many obstacles and dangers during his travels, see 2 Cor. 11:26. It may have been the hardships ahead, malaria, or disagreement over leadership, with Paul now taking the lead, that made Mark want to go home – we do not know. However, this event meant that Paul did not trust Mark on his next journey and refused to let him accompany him, see Acts 15:39. But after a few years, this attitude changed. He calls Mark a "fellow worker" in Col. 4:10 and "a faithful minister with me" in 2 Tim. 4:11.]
Act 15:37
  Interlinear
Barnabas wanted to take [his cousin] John, who was [also] called Mark, with them.
Act 15:39
  Interlinear
The conflict became so sharp that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.
[The issue was the character of John Mark. On the first journey, he had left Paul and Barnabas and gone home, see Acts 13:13. Paul probably had a more rational view than Barnabas. Paul saw the seriousness and dangers of the journey and wanted to be able to trust his co-workers. Barnabas, on the other hand, wanted to give his cousin another chance, see Col. 4:10. Barnabas' personality always seems to be encouraging and helpful. He took Paul under his wing when he was a new convert, see Acts 9:27. It was also he who brought Paul to Antioch, see Acts 11:25. The events in Gal. 2:11–21, where Paul criticizes Barnabas and Peter, may also have played a role in the conflict.
John Mark later proved to be faithful. He is mentioned by Peter, see 1 Pet. 5:13, and then also by Paul, see Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11. Although Paul and Barnabas had different opinions about how the work should be done, there is no indication that they parted as enemies. Paul mentions Barnabas in 1 Cor. 9:6 as an apostle who works for the Lord. Instead of one missionary journey, there will now be two!]
Col 4:10
  Interlinear
[In addition to Timothy, who is mentioned at the beginning of the letter, six other people who were with Paul in Rome now send their greetings to the believers in Colossae and the surrounding churches.]
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends his greetings to you.
[His name means “the best ruler.” Aristarchus was from Thessalonica, see Acts 19:29; 20:4. He probably became a Christian when Paul came to Thessalonica, see Acts 17:1–9. During the collection for the church in Jerusalem, he was chosen to accompany them. He remained at Paul's side on the way to Rome, see Acts 27:2. He is one of the three men of Jewish background who are with Paul at this time, see verse 11.]
Mark, Barnabas' cousin, also sends his greetings. You have been instructed about him: welcome him if he comes to you.
[John Mark was from Jerusalem. It was in his mother's house that the congregation gathered and prayed when Peter was miraculously freed, see Acts 12:12. Mark traveled with Paul and Barnabas, but he interrupted his journey in Perga, see Acts 13:13. Mark was close to Peter, who calls him his son, see 1 Pet. 5:13. Mark is the author of the Gospel of Mark, which contains many details from Peter's experiences with Jesus.]
2 Tim 4:11
  Interlinear
Luke is the only one who remains with me.
[Luke was with Paul even during his first imprisonment in Rom, see Col. 4:14; Philem 1:24.] Bring Mark here with you,
he is very useful to me in my ministry.
[John Mark traveled with Paul and Barnabas, but he broke off the journey in Perga, see Acts 13:13. There has been a reconciliation, and Paul speaks well of him here. He was with Paul even during his first imprisonment, see Col. 4:10.]
Phm 1:24
  Interlinear
So do my fellow workers: Mark [John Mark], Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. [There is a reason why Paul mentions the last four people, whom Philem. probably did not know but had certainly heard of. The fact that Mark is mentioned first may be because he had abandoned Paul but was restored, see Acts 13:13; 15:39; Col. 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11. This was a fine testimony that spoke directly to Philem. situation about how his relationship with Onesimus could also be restored. John Mark, which was his full name, was originally from Jerusalem and was Barnabas' cousin, see Col. 4:10. It was in Mark's mother's house that the church gathered and prayed when Peter was miraculously freed, see Acts 12:12. Mark traveled with Paul and Barnabas, but he interrupted the journey in Perga, see Acts 13:13. Mark was close to Peter, who calls him his son, see 1 Pet. 5:13. Mark is the author of the Gospel of Mark, which contains many details from Peter's experiences with Jesus. Aristarchus was from Thessalonica, see Acts 19:29; 20:4. He probably became a Christian when Paul came to Thessalonica, see Acts 17:1–9. During the collection for the church in Jerusalem, he was chosen to accompany them. He remained at Paul's side on the way to Rom, see Acts 27:2. He is one of three men of Jewish background who are with Paul at this time, see Col. 4:11. It is likely that Demas also came from Thessalonica in the same way as Aristarchus. Demas eventually abandoned Paul for worldly interests and went to Thessalonica, see 2 Tim. 4:10. Luke was a physician, see Col. 4:14. He had traveled with Paul on several of his journeys and wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.]
1 Pet 5:13
  Interlinear
She [your sister church here] in Babylon [may be a symbolic name for Rom], chosen together with you, sends greetings, and so does my son (disciple) Mark.
[This verse can be read literally or interpreted:
She may refer to the church where Peter is located or a specific woman, perhaps Peter's wife. Babylon may be the city of Babylon on the river Euphrates or a code name for Rom. Mark may be Peter's real son or his spiritual son. Since the expression "chosen together with you" is used, it is most natural that "she" refers to the congregation to which Peter is writing this letter. Early manuscripts sometimes have the addition "the congregation," which indicates that this was the first interpretation. In that case, it is also likely that Mark is not Peter's physical son but refers to the author of the Gospel of Mark, John Mark, who has many details from Peter's experiences with Jesus. Peter was also well acquainted with Mark since the early days of the church in Jerusalem, see Acts 12:12. Mark is often in Rom, see Col. 4:10, which also suggests that Babylon is a code name for Rom.
Those who advocate a more literal interpretation point out that Peter was married, see Matt. 8:14; 1 Cor. 9:5, and this may refer to his wife. Peter probably had children of his own, and perhaps a son named Mark. The introduction to the letter mentions several real places, see 1 Pet. 1:1. However, Babylon was in ruins at that time, and no other sources indicate that Peter was there, which supports a symbolic interpretation.]