Mark the cousin of Barnabas

The New Testament presents a figure named John whose other name was Mark and later refers to Mark as the cousin of Barnabas. John Mark's mother Mary had a house in Jerusalem where believers gathered for prayer. Barnabas and Saul took John Mark with them after delivering famine relief, and he accompanied them as an assistant when they began their missionary journey. At Perga, however, Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. When Paul and Barnabas planned another journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark again, but Paul objected because Mark had withdrawn from the earlier work. Their sharp disagreement led Barnabas to take Mark to Cyprus while Paul chose Silas. Later Pauline letters show a restored relationship: Mark is called a fellow worker, the Colossians are instructed to welcome him, and 2 Timothy asks that Mark be brought because he is useful for ministry. First Peter also mentions 'Mark, my son,' showing a close association with Peter. Early Christian tradition strongly connects this Mark with the Gospel of Mark, though the Gospel itself is anonymous.