John 18 · a question people ask
When Jesus said, "I am he," "they went backward and fell to the ground" (18:6). Why did they fall?
The chapter doesn't say. It tells what happened: Jesus asked, "Who are you looking for?" (18:4); they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth", and he said, "I am he" (18:5). "When therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward and fell to the ground" (18:6). Then he asked them again (18:7), and said, "I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way" (18:8). The chapter gives no reason for their falling, and these notes give none, and set these words beside no other passage.
The verses
“Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went out and said to them, “Who are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward and fell to the ground. Again therefore he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,””