(ii.) A second striking characteristic of the second Evangelist is his love of picturesque, or at least of striking details,—his proneness to introduce exceedingly minute particulars, often of the profoundest significancy, and always of considerable interest. Not to look beyond the Twelve Verses (chap. i. 9-20) which were originally proposed for comparison,—We are reminded (_a_) that in describing our SAVIOUR’S Baptism, it is only S. Mark who relates that “He came _from Nazareth_” to be baptized.—(_b_) In his highly elliptical account of our LORD’S Temptation, it is only he who relates that “He was _with the wild beasts_.”—(_c_) In his description of the Call of the four Disciples, S. Mark alone it is who, (notwithstanding the close resemblance of his account to what is found in S. Matthew,) records that the father of S. James and S. John was left “in the ship _with the hired servants_.”(304)—Now, of this characteristic, we have also within these twelve verses, at least four illustrations:— (_a_) Note in ver. 10, that life-like touch which evidently proceeded from an eye-witness,—“πενθοῦσι καὶ κλαίουσι.” S. Mark relates that when Mary conveyed to the Disciples the joyous tidings of the LORD’S Resurrection, _she found them overwhelmed with sorrow_,—“mourning and weeping.” (_b_) Note also that the unbelief recorded in ver. 13 is _recorded only there._ (_c_) Again. S. Mark not only says that as the two Disciples were “going into the country,” (πορευόμενοι εἰς ἀγρόν,(305) ver. 12,) JESUS also “went with them”—(συν-επορεύετο, as S. Luke relates;)—but that it was _as they actually _“walked”_ along_ (περιπατοῦσιν) that this manifestation took place. (_d_) Among the marvellous predictions made concerning “them that believe;” what can be imagined more striking than the promise that they should “_take up serpents_;” and suffer no harm even if they should “_drink any deadly thing_”?