First Peter 5:13 is a closing greeting. Peter sends warm regards from a congregation he calls “she who is in Babylon,” and he includes Mark, a younger companion he treats almost as a son. The verse matters less for its doctrine than for what it shows about the close, shared life of the early church.
Peter writes this letter to Christians scattered across several regions of Asia Minor who were facing hostility for their faith. At the very end, he passes along greetings from people who are with him, which tells his readers they are part of a wider family of believers stretching across the Roman world.
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you; and so does Mark, my son.
1 Peter 5:13 (WEB)
What 1 Peter 5:13 Means
The phrase “she who is in Babylon” most likely refers to the church in the city of Babylon, a word that in Peter’s time often served as a code name for Rome. Many readers take it that way because Rome was seen as a center of power that opposed God’s people, much as ancient Babylon had been for Israel. Peter does not spell this out, so it remains a reasonable reading rather than something the text states outright.
The phrase “chosen together with you” tells us that this church shares the same calling as Peter’s readers. Being chosen is not a private honor but a common identity. Peter is reminding them that believers in distant places belong to one people called by God.
The greeting from “Mark, my son” points to a warm personal bond. Mark is widely identified with John Mark, a companion of Peter and the author traditionally linked to the Gospel of Mark. The verse does not promise anything about their future or their safety. It simply records affection and fellowship among people who are working together for the gospel.
The Context of 1 Peter 5:13
First Peter is a letter addressed to believers facing suffering because of their faith. Peter is traditionally identified as the author, though many scholars think the letter may have been shaped by a secretary and that Silvanus helped carry it, as verse 12 suggests. The readers are spread across regions such as Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
The verses just before this one are full of encouragement: God will restore, strengthen, and establish his people after a short season of suffering. Verse 13 sits right beside that promise. The greeting reminds readers that they are not enduring hardship alone, because a whole network of believers, including those in Babylon, stands with them in the same hope.
Key Phrases in 1 Peter 5:13
Romans 16:16
Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you.
(WEB)
Paul closes Romans with a similar call to greet fellow believers warmly. Like Peter, he treats greetings as a real expression of the unity of the church, not a formality to be rushed through.
Acts 12:12
Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
(WEB)
This passage places John Mark in the early Jerusalem church, where believers gathered to pray. It gives background on Mark’s early life among the followers of Jesus and helps explain why Peter speaks of him with such fondness.
A Short Prayer From 1 Peter 5:13
Lord, thank you that you have called me into a family that stretches across many places and many seasons. When I feel alone in what I am facing, remind me that others share my faith and my hope. Help me to honor the people who have shaped my walk with you, and give me the wisdom to send a word of encouragement when it would matter. Keep my heart warm toward the church, near and far. Amen.
