Changes

== Mark's Identity ==

== Mark's Identity ==

Mark may have been a [[Gentile]], as he describes without precision Jewish customs in his Gospel.  Mark was always an outsider with respect to [[the Apostles]], and was not invited into their group after the [[Resurrection]] or when a new 12th Apostle was chosen.  Mark was more critical of the [[Sabbath]], the Apostles themselves, and even Jesus's family who rejected him, in his Gospel than other Gospel writers were.  ''See'' Mark 3:21 (And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”<ref>[[ESV]].</ref>).

Mark was probably a [[Gentile]], as he describes without precision Jewish customs in his Gospel.  Also, his opening sentence would have been blasphemy punishable by death under [[Jewish]] law, proclaiming (unlike the other [[the Gospels|Gospels]]) that his work is "the gospel of [[Jesus Christ]], the Son of [[God]]."<ref>Mark 1:1 ([[ESV]]).</ref>Mark was always an outsider with respect to [[the Apostles]], and was not invited into their group after the [[Resurrection]] or when a new 12th Apostle was chosen.  Mark was more critical of the [[Sabbath]], the Apostles themselves, and even Jesus's family who rejected him, in his Gospel than other Gospel writers were.  ''See'' Mark 3:21 (And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”<ref>[[ESV]].</ref>).

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 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.