John Calvin Commentary Mark 14:51

"And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over [his] naked [body]: and they lay hold on him;" — Mark 14:51 (ASV)

And a young man. How some persons have come to dream that this was John²²¹ I do not know, nor is it of much importance to inquire. The chief point is to ascertain for what purpose Mark has related this transaction.

I think that his object was to inform us that those wicked men — as usually happens in riotous assemblies — stormed and raved without shame or modesty.

This appeared from their seizing a young man who was unknown to them and not suspected of any crime, so that he had difficulty in escaping out of their hands naked.

For it is probable that the young man, who is mentioned, had some attachment to Christ, and, on hearing the tumult by night, without stopping to put on his clothes, and covered only with a linen garment, came either to discover their traps, or, at least, that he might not be lacking in a duty of friendship.²²²

We certainly perceive — as I just now said — that those wicked men raged with cruel violence, when they did not even spare a poor young man, who had left his bed, almost naked, and ran, on hearing the noise.

²²¹ “Aucuns ont songé que c’estoit Jean, l’un des Apostres;” — “some have dreamed that it was John, one of the Apostles.”;” — “some have dreamed that it was John, one of the Apostles.”

²²² “Ou, pour le moins à fin de faire devoir d’ami envers Jesus Christ;” — “or, at least, in order to perform the duty of a friend towards Jesus Christ.”;” — “or, at least, in order to perform the duty of a friend towards Jesus Christ.”