Mark

Author - Mark
Although Mark's name does not appear in the text he has been unanimously accepted as the author from the external evidence. His name appears above the text in all of the ancient text of scripture, and ancient manuscripts. The early Church fathers (Papias in A.D. 140) all ascribe the authorship to Mark.

John Mark was the son of Mary who lived in Jerusalem. (Acts 12:12) He is the cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10) who was a wealthy landowner from Cyprus. (Acts 4:36) Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their second missionary journey only to desert them at Perga in Pamphylia and return to Jerusalem. He may have become sick and need to return home. Barnabas wanted to try and use him again but Paul was not willing to risk desertion again and would not take him along.

This split Paul and Barnabas into separate ministries. Barnabas took Mark with him to Cyprus to minister. (Acts 15:39) Later Paul and Mark were reconciled and Paul spoke of Mark's ministry of comfort to him. From youth Mark was a close friend of Peter. (1 Peter 5:13) It is thought that Mark gathered much of his details from the eye witness account of Peter.