Changes

Although his concise [[Gospel of Mark|gospel]] was plainly written by an outsider, there have been strained attempts to fit Mark into the group.

Although his concise [[Gospel of Mark|gospel]] was plainly written by an outsider, there have been strained attempts to fit Mark into the group.

Some link Mark to "John Mark" as referenced in Acts 12:12.  Others suggest that Mark accompanied [[Paul]] and [[Barnabas]], his cousin, on their missionary journey.<ref>Acts 12:25</ref>  Mark’s unexplained departure from that trip at Perga possibly caused a later split between Paul and Barnabas, when Paul refused to take Mark on the second mission.  Barnabas, in loyalty to his cousin Mark, broke off his relationship with Paul and traveled with Mark instead to [[Cyprus]].<ref>Acts 15:36-39</ref>  Later Paul realized he was wrong about Mark and requested him to come visit.  Mark and Paul were reunited and went on an additional trip together.

Some link Mark to "[[John Mark]]" as referenced in {{bibleref|Acts|12|12}}.  Others suggest that Mark accompanied [[Paul]] and [[Barnabas]], his cousin, on their missionary journey.<ref>Acts 12:25</ref>  Mark’s unexplained departure from that trip at Perga possibly caused a later split between Paul and Barnabas, when Paul refused to take Mark on the second mission.  Barnabas, in loyalty to his cousin Mark, broke off his relationship with Paul and traveled with Mark instead to [[Cyprus]].<ref>Acts 15:36-39</ref>  Later Paul realized he was wrong about Mark and requested him to come visit.  Mark and Paul were reunited and went on an additional trip together.

A theory suggests that Mark was close to the Apostle [[Peter]], who once described Mark as "my son."<ref>I Peter 5:13</ref>  According to [[Papias]], Mark was the interpreter for Peter and the Gospel According to Mark is often considered to be Peter’s Gospel as transcribed by Mark. In Acts 12:12 when Peter escapes from prison, he goes to the home of Mark's mother, which was then the center of the Church.<ref>''The Men, the Meaning, and the Message of the New Testament Books'', William Barclay, Westminster Press, 1977, page 15</ref>  If Mark 14:51-52 is truly a self-description of Mark as a young man, which some scholars believe, then the [[Last Supper]] (Mark 14:22-25) was also held in the home of Mark's mother.

A theory suggests that Mark was close to the Apostle [[Peter]], who once described Mark as "my son."<ref>I Peter 5:13</ref>  According to [[Papias]], Mark was the interpreter for Peter and the Gospel According to Mark is often considered to be Peter’s Gospel as transcribed by Mark. In Acts 12:12 when Peter escapes from prison, he goes to the home of Mark's mother, which was then the center of the Church.<ref>''The Men, the Meaning, and the Message of the New Testament Books'', William Barclay, Westminster Press, 1977, page 15</ref>  If Mark 14:51-52 is truly a self-description of Mark as a young man, which some scholars believe, then the [[Last Supper]] (Mark 14:22-25) was also held in the home of Mark's mother.

Mark has been the patron saint of [[Venice]] ever since the Venetians led a successful mission to recover his body from the [[Muslim]]s in [[Alexandria]], and to this day his body lies in St. Mark's Basilica in the city. Depictions of Mark are common in Venetian art, and often feature a [[lion]], the animal that is identified with him.  

Mark has been the patron saint of [[Venice]] ever since the Venetians led a successful mission to recover his body from the [[Muslim]]s in [[Alexandria]], and to this day his body lies in St. Mark's Basilica in the city. Depictions of Mark are common in Venetian art, and often feature a [[lion]], the animal that is identified with him.

=== First Pope of Alexandria ===

=== First Pope of Alexandria ===