the disciples, whither Peter went after he was
delivered from prison. On this or some other visit Mark may have been
converted through the preaching of Peter, and this may have been the
cause of Peter calling him "his son" (1 Pet. 5:13), which doubtless
means son in the ministry. He returns with Paul and Barnabas from
Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 12:25), and accompanies them, as minister
(Acts 13:5) on the first great missionary journey as far as Perga
(Acts 13:13). There he left them and returned home. On the second
missionary tour Paul declined to take him and separated from Barnabas,
Mark's cousin (Col. 4:10), who chose Mark for his companion (Acts
15:37-39). Ten years later he seems to be with Paul in his
imprisonment at Rome and was certainly counted a fellow worker by Paul
(Col. 4:10, Philemon 24). Paul found him useful and asked Timothy to
bring him to him in his last imprisonment (2 Tim. 4:11). He was with
Peter when he wrote his first epistle (1 Peter 5:13).

What he knew of the work of Jesus directly we do not know, probably
not much. The early Christian writers universally say that he was the
interpreter of Peter and that he based his gospel upon information
gained from him.

Characteristics and Purpose.

1. It Is a Gospel of Vividness and Details. He shows the effect of awe
and wonder produced upon those present by the works and teaching of
Jesus. He tells the details of the actions of Jesus and his disciples
and the multitudes. Jesus "looks around," "sat down," "went before".
He is grieved, hungry, angry, indignant, wonders, sleeps, rests and is
moved with pity. The cock crows twice: "it is the hour", "a great
while before day," or "eventide," "there are two thousand swine", the
disciples and Jesus are on the sea, on Olivet, or in the court yard or
in the porch. Everything is portrayed in detail.

2. It Is a Gospel of Activity and Energy. There is no story of his
infancy, but he starts with "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus
Christ". He portrays the active career of Jesus on earth. He,
however, lays emphasis upon the works rather than the words of Jesus.
Few discourses of any length and only four of the fifteen parables of
Matthew are given and those in the briefest form, while eighteen of
the miracles are given in rapid review. The rapid succession is
indicated by one Greek word, translated by the seven words
"immediately", "anon", "forthwith", "by and by", "as soon as",
"shortly", and "straightwa