Mark

Mark is the forty-first book of the Bible and the shortest of the four gospels. It is traditionally attributed to John Mark, a companion of Peter and of Paul who appears several times in the book of Acts. The book is generally dated to the mid-60s AD and is widely considered the earliest of the four gospels.

Mark's account is fast-paced and direct. There is no genealogy and no birth narrative; the book opens with John the Baptist appearing in the wilderness and Jesus arriving to be baptized. Jesus is then immediately driven into the wilderness, tempted, and begins his ministry in Galilee. The word "immediately" appears repeatedly throughout the book, giving the narrative a sense of urgency.

The first half of Mark concentrates on Jesus's miracles, including healings, exorcisms, calming a storm, and feeding crowds. Crowds press in on him; religious leaders confront him; he repeatedly tells those he heals to keep quiet about it. Halfway through the book, in chapter 8, Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah, and the narrative pivots toward Jerusalem.

The second half follows Jesus's final journey, his arrival in the city, his confrontations in the temple, his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The book ends with women finding the tomb empty on Sunday morning. The earliest manuscripts end abruptly; later manuscripts include additional verses describing post-resurrection appearances.