St. Mark (first century AD), one of the 12 Apostles chosen by Jesus, is traditionally considered the author of the Second Gospel.

Little is known of Mark as a person. He is called "John" in three of the texts of the New Testament (Acts 12:12, 25; 13:5, 13; 15:37). The early Christians gathered at his family's house in Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). He accompanied Paul and Barnabas on Paul's first missionary journey as far as Perga in Pamphylia. The last mention of Mark is in the Acts when it is noted that he journeyed to Cyprus with Barnabas.

Mark's closest relationship seems to have been with Peter. Peter sends Mark greetings in his first letter (5:13), and Papias, a 2nd-century Christian writer, states that Mark copied down the words of Peter and thus composed the Gospel that carries his name. As far as can be judged from the testimony of Christian writers in the 2d and 3d...