Book of Mark

The book of Mark is ascribed to Mark, known as Mark the Evangelist. Mark was was one the seventy disciples chosen by Jesus (Luke 10:1) who continued to work with the apostles after Christ's resurrection (2 Tim. 4:11) before later becoming bishop of Alexandria, according to Hippolytus of Rome (Roberts). Hippolytus was a disciple of Irenaeous who was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of the apostle John. He was also a third century theologian for the church.

Mark was instructed by the apostle Peter in writing the Book of Mark, as attested by several early church fathers (Hastings). Basically, Mark was scribe for the apostle Peter, which means Peter could actually be claimed as its true author. Peter is also the author of the Epistles (letters) 1 and 2 of the New Testament in his name.

Peter, (son of John), was named Simon but renamed by Jesus as Cephas (Strong 2786) from the Greek Petros meaning rock (Strong 4074) (John 1:42). Cephas is translated into English as Peter. He was called by the Lord while fishing (Luke 5:1-10) at the Lake of Gennesaret (also known as Sea of Galilee, Matt. 4:18) and later chosen as one of the twelve disciples (Luke 6:14). He also witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2-10) when Jesus conversed with the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Moses and a voice was heard coming from a cloud that overshadowed them pronouncing "this is my beloved Son" (Mark 9:2-10). Having been witness of the transfiguration (along with John and James), he was given "a more sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:16-19).

Peter began the church in Rome which later became the Roman Catholic Church, which is believed to fulfill the prophecy Jesus gave to Peter that he would be the leader and founder of His church (Matt. 16:18). Particularly so, since this seems to be the first church that began the churches of Christianity known today.

Tradition attributed to early church fathers teaches that Peter was martyred for the Lord (McDowell), another prediction from the Lord that was fulfilled (John 21:18). Further testimony of his crucifixion can be found in the "Acts of Peter" (Kirby) which, although some of its work seems to be that of legend, parts of it poses as accurately taught by tradition such as Peter's death upside down on a cross. Apparently it was meant Peter be crucified right side up (the usual stance of crucifixion). He asked to be turned upside down because he felt he was not worthy of the same death as His Messiah and Lord.

Like Peter, Mark the Evangelist was martyred for the Lord. His biography can be found by the Pope of the Coptic Church of Alexandria in Egypt (Shenouda III).

As the pagans watched the success of St. Mark, their hate towards him became profound. They were shaken by his success in preaching the name of Lord Christ. Even the Roman government saw him as a direct threat to them so they planned to kill him.

HE WAS ARRESTED AND TORTURED In 68 AD, the 14 th. year of Niron's reign, on the 29 th. of Barmoda, while the Christians were celebrating Easter in the church in Pokalia, the Egyptians and the Greeks were also celebrating the national day for the idol god Sirabis. On this day the pagans gathered to kill St. Mark. It was too much for the pagans to see many of their own people were converting to Christianity as well as the fact that St. Mark himself was harsh in his criticism to the pagans. This increased their rage. The people together with authority moved swiftly against St. Mark. The crowd attacked the church at the time St. Mark just completed the Eucharist. They pushed away the congregation and arrested him and with a long strong rope they put around his neck, they pulled him along the streets and the roads of the city.With extreme cruelty they kept pulling him over the rough rocky surface of the streets that his flesh was cut into pieces with the blood all over the roads. The Saint thanked God who made him worthy to suffer in His name. By the end of the day, they got tired, and they threw him in a dark prison.

A VISION AND COMFORT IN THE JAIL: St. Mark spent that night with his terribly lacerated body, with a high spirit, and was looking forward to meet the Lord in His Kingdom. God didn't leave him alone. At midnight, he saw an angel, who touched him and said, " O Mark, the good servant, the time has arrived to receive your award now. Be courageous, as your name has been written in book of life." This comforted him and he raised his hand towards heaven and said, "Thank you my Savior Jesus, You never left me alone, You accepted me with whom You blessed with Your mercy." As the angel left, the Savior appeared to him and gave him the peace and said. " O Mark, my disciple and my evangelist, peace be with you." The disciple screamed and said, "O' my Lord Jesus." When the vision ended, he became cheerful and comfortable, as his heart was ready to meet the Lord.

THE MARTYRDOM OF THE SAINT AND HIS BURIAL: The following morning, on 30 Barmoda, the idolaters came to take him from the prison and again surrounded his neck with a thick rope and repeated what they did with him the pervious day. While he was pulled over the stones he prayed God to forgive them. His soul left him for its Creator, to receive the crown of martyrdom (Mark's detailed biography, by H. H. Pope Shenouda III).

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Works Cited

Hastings, Dr. Jim. Mark: A Scribe for Peter's Testimony. CreateSpace Publishing, 2014.

Kirby, Peter. “The Acts of Peter.” Early Christian Writings. .http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/actspeter.html Accessed 20 Nov. 2017.

McDowell, Sean. The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus. Ashgate, 2015.

Roberts, Alexander.Ante-Nicean Fathers, Volume 5. Hendrickson Publishers, 1994.

Shenouda III, H.H. Pope. “The Beholder of God: Mark The Evangelist Saint and Martyr.” Tasheba.org http://tasbeha.org/content/hh_books/Stmark/ Accessed 20 Nov. 2017.


Home Writers of the New Testament

	Book of Mark Gospel of the Apostle Peter

		The book of Mark is ascribed to Mark, known as Mark the Evangelist. Mark was was one the seventy disciples chosen by Jesus (Luke 10:1) who continued to work with the apostles after Christ's resurrection (2 Tim. 4:11) before later becoming bishop of Alexandria, according to Hippolytus of Rome (Roberts). Hippolytus was a disciple of Irenaeous who was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of the apostle John. He was also a third century theologian for the church. Mark was instructed by the apostle Peter in writing the Book of Mark, as attested by several early church fathers (Hastings). Basically, Mark was scribe for the apostle Peter, which means Peter could actually be claimed as its true author. Peter is also the author of the Epistles (letters) 1 and 2 of the New Testament in his name. Peter, (son of John), was named Simon but renamed by Jesus as Cephas (Strong 2786) from the Greek Petros meaning rock (Strong 4074) (John 1:42). Cephas is translated into English as Peter. He was called by the Lord while fishing (Luke 5:1-10) at the Lake of Gennesaret (also known as Sea of Galilee, Matt. 4:18) and later chosen as one of the twelve disciples (Luke 6:14). He also witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2-10) when Jesus conversed with the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Moses and a voice was heard coming from a cloud that overshadowed them pronouncing "this is my beloved Son" (Mark 9:2-10). Having been witness of the transfiguration (along with John and James), he was given "a more sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:16-19). Peter began the church in Rome which later became the Roman Catholic Church, which is believed to fulfill the prophecy Jesus gave to Peter that he would be the leader and founder of His church (Matt. 16:18). Particularly so, since this seems to be the first church that began the churches of Christianity known today. Tradition attributed to early church fathers teaches that Peter was martyred for the Lord (McDowell), another prediction from the Lord that was fulfilled (John 21:18). Further testimony of his crucifixion can be found in the "Acts of Peter" (Kirby) which, although some of its work seems to be that of legend, parts of it poses as accurately taught by tradition such as Peter's death upside down on a cross. Apparently it was meant Peter be crucified right side up (the usual stance of crucifixion). He asked to be turned upside down because he felt he was not worthy of the same death as His Messiah and Lord. Like Peter, Mark the Evangelist was martyred for the Lord. His biography can be found by the Pope of the Coptic Church of Alexandria in Egypt (Shenouda III). As the pagans watched the success of St. Mark, their hate towards him became profound. They were shaken by his success in preaching the name of Lord Christ. Even the Roman government saw him as a direct threat to them so they planned to kill him. HE WAS ARRESTED AND TORTURED In 68 AD, the 14 th. year of Niron's reign, on the 29 th. of Barmoda, while the Christians were celebrating Easter in the church in Pokalia, the Egyptians and the Greeks were also celebrating the national day for the idol god Sirabis. On this day the pagans gathered to kill St. Mark. It was too much for the pagans to see many of their own people were converting to Christianity as well as the fact that St. Mark himself was harsh in his criticism to the pagans. This increased their rage. The people together with authority moved swiftly against St. Mark. The crowd attacked the church at the time St. Mark just completed the Eucharist. They pushed away the congregation and arrested him and with a long strong rope they put around his neck, they pulled him along the streets and the roads of the city.With extreme cruelty they kept pulling him over the rough rocky surface of the streets that his flesh was cut into pieces with the blood all over the roads. The Saint thanked God who made him worthy to suffer in His name. By the end of the day, they got tired, and they threw him in a dark prison. A VISION AND COMFORT IN THE JAIL: St. Mark spent that night with his terribly lacerated body, with a high spirit, and was looking forward to meet the Lord in His Kingdom. God didn't leave him alone. At midnight, he saw an angel, who touched him and said, " O Mark, the good servant, the time has arrived to receive your award now. Be courageous, as your name has been written in book of life." This comforted him and he raised his hand towards heaven and said, "Thank you my Savior Jesus, You never left me alone, You accepted me with whom You blessed with Your mercy." As the angel left, the Savior appeared to him and gave him the peace and said. " O Mark, my disciple and my evangelist, peace be with you." The disciple screamed and said, "O' my Lord Jesus." When the vision ended, he became cheerful and comfortable, as his heart was ready to meet the Lord. THE MARTYRDOM OF THE SAINT AND HIS BURIAL: The following morning, on 30 Barmoda, the idolaters came to take him from the prison and again surrounded his neck with a thick rope and repeated what they did with him the pervious day. While he was pulled over the stones he prayed God to forgive them. His soul left him for its Creator, to receive the crown of martyrdom (Mark's detailed biography, by H. H. Pope Shenouda III). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Works Cited Hastings, Dr. Jim. Mark: A Scribe for Peter's Testimony. CreateSpace Publishing, 2014. Kirby, Peter. “The Acts of Peter.” Early Christian Writings. .http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/actspeter.html Accessed 20 Nov. 2017. McDowell, Sean. The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus. Ashgate, 2015. Roberts, Alexander.Ante-Nicean Fathers, Volume 5. Hendrickson Publishers, 1994. Shenouda III, H.H. Pope. “The Beholder of God: Mark The Evangelist Saint and Martyr.” Tasheba.org http://tasbeha.org/content/hh_books/Stmark/ Accessed 20 Nov. 2017.