1 Peter 5:13

1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 Peter 5:13 She who is at Babylon, who is... chosen. The Babylon of the OT was in ruins. By NT times “Babylon” symbolized a center of earthly power opposed to God (see Isaiah 13:1; Jeremiah 50:1; see also Revelation 17:1). In Peter’s day that city was Rome. The OT background to “Babylon” reminds believers that they are “elect exiles” (1 Peter 1:1) who will receive the promised inheritance. Mark 1:1 is the same John Mark who traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (see Acts 12:25; Acts 13:5, Acts 13:13; Acts 15:36). Though he left Paul and Barnabas, Mark became a fine minister (Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24). Peter would have known Mark for decades because the church met in his mother’s home in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). This verse also shows a close relationship between Peter and Mark (my son).