Page "Mark the Evangelist" Paragraph 2

According to William Lane ( 1974 ), an " unbroken tradition " identifies Mark the Evangelist with John Mark, and John Mark as the cousin of Barnabas.

An exception is found in Hippolytus of Rome, who in his work On the Seventy Apostles, distinguishes Mark the Evangelist ( 2 Tim 4: 11 ), John Mark ( Acts 12: 12, 25 ; 13: 5, 13 ; 15: 37 ), and Mark the cousin of Barnabas ( Col 4: 10 ; Phlm 24 ).

According to Hippolytus, they all belonged to the " Seventy Disciples " who were sent out by Jesus to saturate Judea with the gospel ( Luke 10: 1ff .).

However, when Jesus explained that his flesh was " real food " and his blood was " real drink ", many disciples left him ( John 6: 44-6: 66 ), presumably including Mark.

He was later restored to faith by the apostle Peter ; he then became Peter ’ s interpreter, wrote the Gospel of Mark, founded the church of Africa, and became the bishop of Alexandria.