Dear Teacher, I have often been taught that you had 12 apostles, is that true, and who was John Mark, the writer of the Gospel? According to early Christian tradition, one of the four Gospel authors was John Mark, a companion of Paul, of Barnabas, and a close associate of Peter. Early Church Fathers, such as Papias, identified John Mark as the author of the Gospel of Mark, and linked him with Peter, claiming that he wrote the Gospel according to Peter's teachings and experiences. John Mark is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as a companion of Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journeys. The Gospel of John Mark was written in Rome, probably around the time Peter was ministering there, and focuses on the actions and teachings of Jesus. John Mark is also mentioned in other letters of the New Testament, such as 2 Timothy 4:11 and Philemon 24. So, Teacher, who is John Mark? Did John Mark write the Gospel based on what Peter told him? My dear child, The truth is that I had 13 a...