Mark Tacitus Analysis
Evidence Supporting the Stated
Life Situation of Mark
1. Tacitus, Annals of Rome 15.44—he writes of Nero’s reign ca. August 64 CE. Tacitus illustrates Nero’s immorality and explains his desire to build a temple to himself. This desire led to the burning of shops and slums around the Circus Maximus that Nero blamed on the Christians (even though Nero and his helpers were behind the fire in an effort to clear the area for a temple). This fire of Rome was the occasion for a persecution of Christians in the city and may be the persecution/oppression alluded to in Mark’s Gospel.
2. 1 Peter 5:13—references to “Babylon” and “my son, Mark” evidently place Peter and Mark together in Rome (“Babylon” being a designation popularly used
Life Situation of Mark
1. Tacitus, Annals of Rome 15.44—he writes of Nero’s reign ca. August 64 CE. Tacitus illustrates Nero’s immorality and explains his desire to build a temple to himself. This desire led to the burning of shops and slums around the Circus Maximus that Nero blamed on the Christians (even though Nero and his helpers were behind the fire in an effort to clear the area for a temple). This fire of Rome was the occasion for a persecution of Christians in the city and may be the persecution/oppression alluded to in Mark’s Gospel.
2. 1 Peter 5:13—references to “Babylon” and “my son, Mark” evidently place Peter and Mark together in Rome (“Babylon” being a designation popularly used