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Mark 14:51-52 Translation from Source (From Nestle1904)

Here’s a literal word-for-word breakdown of the passage (Mark 14:51-52) with each Greek word and its meaning.   Adding 48-50 and 53-54 for additional context (NOTE the Lesten (λῃστὴν) in 48):

Verses 48-50:

48 καὶ (and) ἀποκριθεὶς (having answered) ὁ (the) Ἰησοῦς (Jesus) εἶπεν (said) αὐτοῖς (to them) Ὡς (as) ἐπὶ (against) λῃστὴν (a child trafficker) ἐξήλθατε (you came out) μετὰ (with) μαχαιρῶν (swords) καὶ (and) ξύλων (clubs) συλλαβεῖν (to seize) με (me).  49 καθ’ (daily) ἡμέραν (day) ἤμην (I was) πρὸς (with) ὑμᾶς (you) ἐν (in) τῷ (the) ἱερῷ (temple) διδάσκων (teaching), καὶ (and) οὐκ (not) ἐκρατήσατέ (you seized) με (me)· ἀλλ’ (but) ἵνα (so that) πληρωθῶσιν (might be fulfilled) αἱ (the) γραφαί (scriptures).  50 καὶ (and) ἀφέντες (having left) αὐτὸν (him) ἔφυγον (fled) πάντες (all).

Verse 51:

• Καὶ (Kai): And
• νεανίσκος (neanískos): a prepubescent boy.  (iskos makes it little)
• τις (tis): a certain one, someone
• συνηκολούθει (synēkolouthei): was following along valiantly in a military/regimented fashion (as a servant) with
• αὐτῷ (autō): him
• περιβεβλημένος (peribeblēménos): having been wrapped
• σινδόνα (sindóna): a fine linen cloth (medicated bandage)
• ἐπὶ (epi): upon, on
• γυμνοῦ (gymnoû): a naked body

Verse 52:

• καὶ (kai): and
• κρατοῦσιν (kratousin): they seize, hold
• αὐτόν (auton): him
• ὁ (ho): the one (he)
• δὲ (de): but
• καταλιπὼν (katalipōn): leaving behind
• τὴν (tēn): the
• σινδόνα (sindóna): fine linen cloth (medical bandage)
• γυμνὸς (gymnòs): naked
• ἔφυγεν (éphygen): he fled, ran away

Verses 53-54:

53 Καὶ (and) ἀπήγαγον (they led away) τὸν (the) Ἰησοῦν (Jesus) πρὸς (to) τὸν (the) ἀρχιερέα (high priest), καὶ (and) συνέρχονται (gathered together) πάντες (all) οἱ (the) ἀρχιερεῖς (chief priests) καὶ (and) οἱ (the) πρεσβύτεροι (elders) καὶ (and) οἱ (the) γραμματεῖς (scribes).  54 καὶ (and) ὁ (the) Πέτρος (Peter) ἀπὸ (from) μακρόθεν (a distance) ἠκολούθησεν (followed) αὐτῷ (him) ἕως (until) ἔσω (inside) εἰς (into) τὴν (the) αὐλὴν (courtyard) τοῦ (of the) ἀρχιερέως (high priest), καὶ (and) ἦν (he was) συνκαθήμενος (sitting together) μετὰ (with) τῶν (the) ὑπηρετῶν (servants) καὶ (and) θερμαινόμενος (warming himself) πρὸς (at) τὸ (the) φῶς (fire/light).

Literal Translation of 51/52:

"And a young man, someone, was following him, having been wrapped in a medicated bandage upon his nakedness. And they seize him, but leaving the medical cloth, naked, he fled."

Terms

• lestes (ληστής): (Nominative case) A robber, brigand, or plunderer.  traffickers, Julius ceaser was kidnapped by them, and when he came back he crucified them, because that’s what you do to traffickers. Lestei get crucified.
  • Someone who commits theft, whether through burglary, robbery, or other forms of criminal acquisition.  for various forms of unlawful acts, which could potentially include the kidnapping or exploitation of people in certain contexts.  Could also be used in a broader sense to describe an outlaw or marauder.
  • CONTEXT ABOVE: is child robbing / trafficking given the context of the child’s presence, and no other context to disambiguate Lestes from the other possible meanings… he’s saying “I’m not a child Lestes” given the context. 
  • Jesus was crucified between two Lestes. Julius Caesar in his youth was kidnapped by Lestes. He had them crucified. Jesus, upon his arrest exclaims, "why are you all coming to capture me with clubs and swords like I'm a Lestes?" (I paraphrased Mark 14:48). Lestes are known throughout antiquity as pirates, stealing not only possessions but enslaving people. Lucian's "Ass" is one source. The death of Oedipus' father was first blamed on Lestes. These are not good people.
• lesten - (λῃστὴν) - (Accusative case) A robber, brigand, or plunderer (as the object of action).
• epì gumnós (ἐπὶ γυμνός) - "Upon nakedness" or "on/over [something] naked."
  • epì (ἐπὶ): A preposition that can mean "on," "upon," "over," or "toward," depending on the case of the word it governs.
  • gumnós (γυμνός): An adjective meaning "naked" or "bare."
• neanías (νεανίας) refers to a young man or a youth, typically someone in the later stages of adolescence or early adulthood.
• neanískos (νεανίσκος) a younger neanias, a younger youth, refers to a younger boy, often in the context of a boy who is still in the early stages of adolescence or childhood.
• sindóna (σινδόνα): fine linen cloth (of the type used as medicated bandages or for mummies)

• sunakolouthéō (συνακολουθέω) - to follow, accompany valiantly in a military/regimented fashion (as a servant) 

The story then goes across Mark 15, Matthew 27, Luke 23, and John 19. Here's how they align:

1. Jesus, on the cross, between two other λῃσταί (lestai) child traffickers
   • Mark 15:27
     1. 27. And with him they crucify two lestai, one on his right and one on his left.
     2. 27. Καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ σταυροῦσιν δύο λῃστάς ἕνα ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ ἕνα ἐξ εὐωνύμων αὐτοῦ. 
     3. Καὶ (and) σὺν (with) αὐτῷ (him) σταυροῦσιν (they crucify) δύο (two) λῃστάς (robbers) ἕνα (one) ἐκ (from) δεξιῶν (right) καὶ (and) ἕνα (one) ἐξ (from) εὐωνύμων (left) αὐτοῦ (of him).
   • Matthew 27:38
     1. 38. Then two lestai were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
     2. 38. Τότε σταυροῦνται σὺν αὐτῷ δύο λῃσταί εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων. 
     3. Τότε (then) σταυροῦνται (they are crucified) σὺν (with) αὐτῷ (him) δύο (two) λῃσταί (traffickers) εἷς (one) ἐκ (from) δεξιῶν (right) καὶ (and) εἷς (one) ἐξ (from) εὐωνύμων (left).
   • Luke 23:32-33 calls them "kakourgoi" (evil-doers), not "lestai."
     1. 32. They were leading but also others evildoers two with him to be executed.  33. And when they came to the place called Golgotha there they crucified him and the evildoers one on the right one on the left.
     2. 32. Ἤγοντο δὲ καὶ ἕτεροι κακοῦργοι δύο σὺν αὐτῷ ἀναιρεθῆναι.  33. Καὶ ὅτε ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον τὸν καλούμενον Κρανίον ἐκεῖ ἐσταύρωσαν αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς κακούργους ὃν μὲν ἐκ δεξιῶν ὃν δὲ ἐξ ἀριστερῶν. 
     3. 32. Ἤγοντο (they were leading) δὲ (but) καὶ (also) ἕτεροι (others) κακοῦργοι (evildoers) δύο (two) σὺν (with) αὐτῷ (him) ἀναιρεθῆναι (to be executed).  33. Καὶ (and) ὅτε (when) ἦλθον (they came) ἐπὶ (to) τὸν (the) τόπον (place) τὸν (the) καλούμενον (called) Κρανίον (Golgotha) ἐκεῖ (there) ἐσταύρωσαν (they crucified) αὐτὸν (him) καὶ (and) τοὺς (the) κακούργους (evildoers) ὃν (one) μὲν (on the one hand) ἐκ (from) δεξιῶν (right) ὃν (on the other hand) δὲ (but) ἐξ (from) ἀριστερῶν (left).
   • John 19:18 just mentions "two others" without specifying their crimes.
     1. 18. Where they crucified him and with him others two on this side and on that side middle but the Jesus.
     2. 18. ὅπου αὐτὸν ἐσταύρωσαν καὶ μετ’ αὐτοῦ ἄλλους δύο ἐντεῦθεν καὶ ἐντεῦθεν μέσον δὲ τὸν Ἰησοῦν.
     3. 18. ὅπου (where) αὐτὸν (him) ἐσταύρωσαν (they crucified) καὶ (and) μετ’ (with) αὐτοῦ (him) ἄλλους (others) δύο (two) ἐντεῦθεν (on this side) καὶ (and) ἐντεῦθεν (on that side) μέσον (middle) δὲ (but) τὸν (the) Ἰησοῦν (Jesus).
2. Jesus crying out with “sabachthani”
   • Mark 15:34
     1. 34. And in the ninth hour he cried out the Jesus with a voice loud Eloi Eloi lama sabachthanei that is being translated “The God my the God my why have you forsaken me.”
     2. 34. καὶ τῇ ἐνάτῃ ὥρᾳ ἐβόησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Ἐλωῒ Ἐλωῒ λαμὰ σαβαχθανεί ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον Ὁ Θεός μου ὁ Θεός μου εἰς τί ἐγκατέλιπές με.  
     3. 34.  καὶ (and) τῇ (in the) ἐνάτῃ (ninth) ὥρᾳ (hour) ἐβόησεν (he cried out) ὁ (the) Ἰησοῦς (Jesus) φωνῇ (with a voice) μεγάλῃ (loud) Ἐλωῒ (Eloi) Ἐλωῒ (Eloi) λαμὰ (lama) σαβαχθανεί (sabachthanei) ὅ (that) ἐστιν (is) μεθερμηνευόμενον (being translated) Ὁ (The) Θεός (God) μου (my) ὁ (the) Θεός (God) μου (my) εἰς (why) τί (have) ἐγκατέλιπές (you forsaken) με (me).
   • Matthew 27:46
     1. 46. Around but the ninth hour he cried out the Jesus with a voice loud saying Heli Heli lema sabachthanei this is is God my God my why have you forsaken me.
     2. 46. περὶ δὲ τὴν ἐνάτην ὥραν ἀνεβόησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς φωνῇ μεγάλῃ λέγων Ἡλεὶ Ἡλεὶ λεμὰ σαβαχθανεί τοῦτ’ ἔστιν Θεέ μου θεέ μου ἵνα τί με ἐγκατέλιπες.  
     3. 46. περὶ (around) δὲ (but) τὴν (the) ἐνάτην (ninth) ὥραν (hour) ἀνεβόησεν (he cried out) ὁ (the) Ἰησοῦς (Jesus) φωνῇ (with a voice) μεγάλῃ (loud) λέγων (saying) Ἡλεὶ (Heli) Ἡλεὶ (Heli) λεμὰ (lema) σαβαχθανεί (sabachthanei) τοῦτ’ (this) ἔστιν (is) Θεέ (God) μου (my) θεέ (God) μου (my) ἵνα (why) τί (have) με (me) ἐγκατέλιπες (forsaken).
   • Luke 23 and John 19 do not include this line.
3. Sponge with vinegar being given to Jesus (antidote for the venom)
   • Mark 15:36
     1. 36. Having run but one and having filled a sponge of sour wine having placed around on a reed he offered to drink him saying; let be, let us see if Elias comes to take him down.
     2. 36.  δραμὼν δὲ εἷς καὶ γεμίσας σπόγγον ὄξους περιθεὶς καλάμῳ ἐπότιζεν αὐτόν λέγων· ἄφετε ἴδωμεν εἰ ἔρχεται Ἠλίας καθελεῖν αὐτόν.
     3. 36.  δραμὼν (having run) δὲ (but) εἷς (one) καὶ (and) γεμίσας (having filled) σπόγγον (sponge) ὄξους (sour wine) περιθεὶς (having put around) καλάμῳ (reed) ἐπότιζεν (he gave to drink) αὐτόν (him) λέγων (saying); ἄφετε (let be) ἴδωμεν (let us see) εἰ (if) ἔρχεται (comes) Ἠλίας (Elias) καθελεῖν (to take down) αὐτόν (him).
   • Matthew 27:48
     1. 48. And immediately having run one from them and having taken a sponge having filled and with sour wine and having placed around on a reed he offered to drink him.
     2. 48.  καὶ εὐθέως δραμὼν εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ λαβὼν σπόγγον πλήσας τε ὄξους καὶ περιθεὶς καλάμῳ ἐπότιζεν αὐτόν.
     3. 48.  καὶ (and) εὐθέως (immediately) δραμὼν (having run) εἷς (one) ἐξ (from) αὐτῶν (them) καὶ (and) λαβὼν (having taken) σπόγγον (sponge) πλήσας (having filled) τε (and) ὄξους (sour wine) καὶ (and) περιθεὶς (having put around) καλάμῳ (reed) ἐπότιζεν (he gave to drink) αὐτόν (him).
   • John 19:29
     1. 29. Vessel was lying sour wine full therefore sponge full of the sour wine on hyssop having put around they brought of him to the mouth.
     2. 29.  σκεῦος ἔκειτο ὄξους μεστόν· σπόγγον οὖν μεστὸν τοῦ ὄξους ὑσσώπῳ περιθέντες προσήνεγκαν αὐτοῦ τῷ στόματι.
     3. 29.  σκεῦος (vessel) ἔκειτο (was lying) ὄξους (sour wine) μεστόν (full); σπόγγον (sponge) οὖν (therefore) μεστὸν (full) τοῦ (of the) ὄξους (sour wine) ὑσσώπῳ (on hyssop) περιθέντες (having put around) προσήνεγκαν (they brought) αὐτοῦ (of him) τῷ (to the) στόματι (mouth).
4. Surprise at Jesus dying faster than the others
   • Mark 15:44
     1. 44. But Pilate was amazed if already he had died and having called the centurion he asked him if long time he had died.
     2. 44. ὁ δὲ Πειλᾶτος ἐθαύμασεν εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκεν καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν κεντυρίωνα ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανεν.
     3. 44. ὁ (the) δὲ (but) Πειλᾶτος (Pilate) ἐθαύμασεν (was amazed) εἰ (if) ἤδη (already) τέθνηκεν (he had died) καὶ (and) προσκαλεσάμενος (having called) τὸν (the) κεντυρίωνα (centurion) ἐπηρώτησεν (he asked) αὐτὸν (him) εἰ (if) πάλαι (a long time) ἀπέθανεν (he had died).
   • This is unique to Mark—Pilate is surprised Jesus has died so soon.
5. Roman guards breaking the legs of the others but not Jesus (appears to already be dead, venom slows breathing to barely perceptible)
   • John 19:32–33
     1. 32. They came therefore the soldiers and indeed first they shattered the legs and of the other who had been crucified with him; but upon Jesus having come when they saw already him having died, they did not shatter his legs.
     2. 32. ἦλθον οὖν οἱ στρατιῶται καὶ τοῦ μὲν πρώτου κατέαξαν τὰ σκέλη καὶ τοῦ ἄλλου τοῦ συσταυρωθέντος αὐτῷ· 33. ἐπὶ δὲ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐλθόντες, ὡς εἶδον ἤδη αὐτὸν τεθνηκότα, οὐ κατέαξαν αὐτοῦ τὰ σκέλη.
     3. 32.  ἦλθον (they came) οὖν (therefore) οἱ (the) στρατιῶται (soldiers) καὶ (and) τοῦ (of the) μὲν (indeed) πρώτου (first) κατέαξαν (they shattered, broke violently) τὰ (the) σκέλη (legs) καὶ (and) τοῦ (of the) ἄλλου (other) τοῦ (who) συσταυρωθέντος (had been crucified together) αὐτῷ (with him)· 33.  ἐπὶ (upon) δὲ (but) τὸν (the) Ἰησοῦν (Iēsous) ἐλθόντες (having come) ὡς (when) εἶδον (they saw) ἤδη (already) αὐτὸν (him) τεθνηκότα (having died, in a completed state of death), οὐ (not) κατέαξαν (they did not shatter) αὐτοῦ (his) τὰ (the) σκέλη (legs).
6. Jesus being stabbed and water pouring from his side
   • John 19:34
     1. 34. But one of the soldiers with a spear of him pierced the side and came out immediately blood and water.
     2. 34. ἀλλ’ εἷς τῶν στρατιωτῶν λόγχῃ αὐτοῦ τὴν πλευρὰν ἔνυξεν καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εὐθὺς αἷμα καὶ ὕδωρ.  
     3. 34. ἀλλ’ (but) εἷς (one) τῶν (of the) στρατιωτῶν (soldiers) λόγχῃ (with a spear) αὐτοῦ (of him) τὴν (the) πλευρὰν (side) ἔνυξεν (pierced) καὶ (and) ἐξῆλθεν (came out) εὐθὺς (immediately) αἷμα (blood) καὶ (and) ὕδωρ (water).
   • The other Gospels do not mention this detail.