Gladly Acts Facts

Gladly Acts Facts

Acts 12:12
And when he [Peter] had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

When Peter was in prison the house where believers gathered to pray for his release and the first place Peter went after the angel let him out of prison was the house of Mary the mother of John Mark.
John Mark was a believer who came from a family that held fellowships in their home.

Colossians 4:10
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Markcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

John Mark was "sister's son to Barnabas" which tells us that Mary (mentioned in Acts 12) was Barnabas' sister. This gave John Mark and Barnabas a very close family relationship.

Acts 12:25
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

John Mark agreed to leave Jerusalem and travel with the apostles Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to learn and help move God's Word. Paul and Barnabas "took him with them" which indicates that they were close to him and held great love and concern for him. John Mark also was willing to move out and interested in the move of God's Word among the Gentiles.

Acts 13:5
And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they had also John to their minister.

The word minister means a subordinate or helper. John Mark went on this ministry journey with Paul and Barnabas to serve the apostles, carry their bags, etc. and to learn how to move God's Word.

Acts 13:13
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

John Mark left Paul and Barnabas who had counted on him to help them for their entire ministry journey. He left the work and went back home to Jerusalem. He should not have left and this departure is partial cause for a split between Barnabas and Paul later.

Acts 15:36-39
   And some days after Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
   And Barnabas determined to take with them John whose surname was Mark.
   But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
   And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

John Mark does not stay with Barnabas. Barnabas is not mentioned after this record in Acts 15, but Mark comes back to the ministry of God's Word and is working with Paul at the end of Paul's life.

II Timothy 4:11
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Mark continues to grow in walking God's Word and stands with the ministry throughout the life of the apostle Paul. There is also reason to believe that John Mark was the author of the gospel of Mark in which Jesus Christ is made known as a servant of God.

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