of this writer the chapters
in question are found "in all _unmutilated_ Greek MSS., and in all
ancient versions;" "the earliest fathers had them in their copies, and
received them as a part of the gospel;" "the ancient heretics and
opponents of Christianity were acquainted with this portion of the first
gospel;" "the commencement of the first chapter is closely connected
with something preceding;" and "the diction of these two chapters bears
the same impress and character which belong to the remainder of the
gospel, proving that the gospel, as we now have it, proceeded from _one_
author."

III. MARK.

21. There is no valid ground for doubting the correctness of the ancient
tradition which identifies the author of the second gospel with "John
whose surname was Mark" (Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37), who is called simply
John (Acts 13:5, 13), and Marcus or Mark (Acts 15:39; Col. 4:10; 2 Tim.
4:11; perhaps also 1 Peter 5:13). He was _cousin_ to Barnabas (Col.
4:10, not _sister's son_, as in our version), which relationship may
explain Barnabas' earnest defence of him (Acts 15:37-39). His mother
Mary resided in Jerusalem, and it was to her house that Peter resorted
immediately upon his miraculous deliverance from prison (Acts 12:12).
The intimacy of Peter with Mary's family must have brought about an
early acquaintance between the apostle and Mark. Ancient tradition
uniformly affirms a close relation between Peter and Mark, representing
the latter to have been the disciple and _interpreter_ of the former.
See below.

Papias (in Eusebius' Hist. Eccl. 3. 39) says, upon the authority
of John the Presbyter, "Mark being Peter's interpreter, wrote
down accurately as many things as he remembered; not, indeed, as
giving in order the things which were spoken or done by Christ.
For he was neither a hearer nor a follower of the Lord, but, as
I said, of Peter, who gave his instructions as occasion
required, but not as one who was composing an orderly account of
our Lord's words. Mark, therefore, committed no error when he
thus wrote down certain things as he remembered them. For he was
careful of one thing, to omit nothing of the things which he
heard and to make no false statements concerning them." These
words of Papias are somewhat loose and indefinite. But, when
fairly interpreted, they seem to mean that as Peter taught
according to the necessities of each occasion, not aiming to