What did Mark do before he met Jesus?

Answer 1

Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabus on a missionary journey, and Paul referred to him later his life as being a servant of God and well respected. He also wrote the second book of the Gospels. His mother was a Christian and his father a Greek. He is also the one who ran away naked when Christ was arrested.

Answer 2

There is no suggestion that either Mark or the author of the gospel that now bears his name ever met Jesus. The only genuine historical reference to Mark is found in Paul's Epistle to Philemon, at verse 1:24. This brief salutation tells us nothing about Mark except that he was a Christian who appears to have been known to Philemon and other Christians associated with Philemon.

Later, pseudepigraphical books expanded on Philemon 1:24, so that, in Acts 12:12, Mark became John Mark, the son of Mary of Jerusalem; Colossians 4:10 describes Mark as a nephew of Barnabas; and 1 Peter 5:13 describes Mark as Peter's son, whether as a blood relative or simply as a fond term for a younger friend. Even if reliable, these references tell us nothing about Mark's work or whether he ever met Jesus.

Mark should not be confused with the author of Mark's Gospel, as the Gospel was originally anonymous until attributed to Mark later in the second century, and was unlikely to have really been written by Mark.

Answer 3

The Bible does not state Mark's occupation before or after he met Jesus. He wrote the Gospel of Mark and highlights John the Baptists Ministry. He was not one of the 12.