He is the one of the three synoptics who has remained the most primitive, the most original, the one to whom the fewest after-elements have been added.
In Mark, the facts are related with a clearness for which we seek in vain amongst the other evangelists.

He likes to report certain words of Jesus in Syro-Chaldean.[2] He is full of minute observations, coming doubtless from an eye-witness.

There is nothing to prevent our agreeing with Papias in regarding this eye-witness, who evidently had followed Jesus, who had loved him and observed him very closely, and who had preserved a lively image of him, as the apostle Peter himself.
[Footnote 1: Chaps.i., ii., especially.

See also chap.xxvii.3, 19, 51, 53, 60, xxviii.

2, and following, in comparing Mark.] [Footnote 2: Chap.v.41, vii.