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Bible Commentaries
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible Whedon's Commentary
John the Baptist; Jesus' Baptism and Temptation.Chapter 2
Healing of Paralytic; Call of Matthew. Questions about Fasting and SabbathChapter 3
Healing on Sabbath; Choosing the Twelve.Chapter 4
Parables of the Sower; Calming the Storm.Chapter 5
Healing of the Demoniac; Jairus' Daughter; Bleeding Woman.Chapter 6
Rejection at Nazareth; Feeding 5,000; Walking on Water.Chapter 7
Traditions vs. Commandments; Healing of a Deaf Man.Chapter 8
Feeding 4,000; Peter's Confession; Prediction of Suffering.Chapter 9
Transfiguration; Healing of a Possessed Boy; Teachings.Chapter 10
Teachings on Divorce; Rich Young Ruler; Jesus Predicts Death.Chapter 11
Triumphal Entry; Cleansing of the Temple.Chapter 12
Parables of Tenants; Questions on Resurrection; Greatest Commandment.Chapter 13
Olivet Discourse; Signs of the End Times.Chapter 14
Anointing at Bethany; Last Supper; Gethsemane.Chapter 15
Trial before Pilate; Crucifixion; Death.Chapter 16
Resurrection; Appearances; Great Commission.
- Mark
by Daniel Whedon
MARK THE EVANGELIST.
JOHN, surnamed MARK, (by the addition, according to custom, of a Gentile to a Jewish name,) was son of Mary, a pious woman at Jerusalem, at whose house the first Christians sometimes assembled. He was converted to the Christian faith by St. Peter. He was nephew to Barnabas, He accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their visit to the Gentiles, (Acts 12:25,) but he left them at Pamphylia and returned to Jerusalem. On account of this retreat St. Paul thought not good to take him on the next journey, which caused a variance between him and Mark’s uncle, Barnabas. They separated, and Barnabas took Mark with him to Cyprus. Mark recovered the confidence of Paul and was his fellow-prisoner at Rome. He was also with St. Peter at Babylon. (1 Peter 5:13.) Tradition says he preached the Gospel in Egypt, and the Coptic or Egyptian Church at this day claims him as its founder. He remained at Egypt, and died, it is said, in the eighth year of Nero, A.D. 61 or 62.
Mark’s Gospel is brief, but is not a mere abridgement of either of the other Gospels. It omits much, but what it relates is sometimes given more fully than by any other evangelist. His frequent explanations of Jewish phrases show that he wrote for Gentiles. It is said that he wrote by dictation of St. Peter. But Mark writes with the minuteness, freshness, and circumstantial ease of an independent eye-witness.
Mark being a resident at Jerusalem, at the house of his Christian mother, during our Saviour’s life, probably had opportunity for a full acquaintance with all the facts of our Saviour’s history. I am of the decided opinion that he was himself the young man described by himself (Mark 14:51) as following Jesus, and narrowly escaping apprehension, as his friend, by the soldiery. (Acts 12:12; Colossians 4:10; Acts 12:25; Acts 13:5-13; Acts 15:37-39; Philippians 1:24; 2Ti 4:11 ; 1 Peter 5:13.)
