Mark 14:46-53

14:46 Then they took hold of him ¹  and arrested him. 14:47 One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, ²  cutting off his ear. 14:48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? ³  14:49 Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, yet ⁴  you did not arrest me. But this has happened so that ⁵  the scriptures would be fulfilled.” 14:50 Then ⁶  all the disciples ⁷  left him and fled. 14:51 A young man was following him, wearing only a linen cloth. They tried to arrest him, 14:52 but he ran off naked, ⁸  leaving his linen cloth behind.

Condemned by the Sanhedrin

14:53 Then ⁹  they led Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and experts in the law ¹⁰  came together.

[14:46]  ¹ tn Grk “put their hands on him.”

[14:47]  ² tn See the note on the word “slave” in 10:44.

[14:48]  ³ tn Or “a revolutionary.” This term can refer to one who stirs up rebellion: BDAG 594 s.v. λῃστής 2 has “revolutionary, insurrectionist,” citing evidence from Josephus (J. W. 2.13.2-3 [2.253-254]). However, this usage generally postdates Jesus’ time. It does refer to a figure of violence. Luke uses the same term for the highwaymen who attack the traveler in the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30).

[14:49]  ⁴ tn Grk “and”; καί (kai) is elastic enough to be used contrastively on occasion, as here.

[14:49]  ⁵ tn Grk “But so that”; the verb “has happened” is implied.

[14:50]  ⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[14:50]  ⁷ tn Grk “they”; the referent (Jesus’ disciples) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:52]  ⁸ sn The statement he ran off naked is probably a reference to Mark himself, traditionally assumed to be the author of this Gospel. Why he was wearing only an outer garment and not the customary tunic as well is not mentioned. W. L. Lane, Mark (NICNT), 527-28, says that Mark probably mentioned this episode so as to make it clear that “all fled, leaving Jesus alone in the custody of the police.”

[14:53]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[14:53]  ¹⁰ tn Or “and scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.