Ver. 6-8. Mark saith no more than, And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. Such is the majesty and glory of God, that a cloud will not so veil it as that a man is able to behold any appearance of it without some consternation; something more than that fear of reverence, without which none ought to draw nigh unto him. Paul fell to the earth when a light from heaven shone upon him, Acts 9:3,4. The disciples here fell on their faces, and were sore afraid. This lets us see the goodness of God in hearkening to the people's request, Exodus 20:19 Deuteronomy 5:28, Deuteronomy 18:16,17, and speaking to us by men like unto ourselves: by Moses under the Old Testament; by Christ (that Prophet mentioned Deuteronomy 18:15) under the New Testament, and such as he commissioned to declare his will, Hebrews 1:1,2. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. To deliver them from the fear of a spectrum, or apparition, he toucheth them, and saith in effect, It is I; be not afraid. They look up, and see the excellent glory and the cloud was withdrawn, as also Moses and Elias, and they and their Lord were left alone; and he goeth down from the mountain with them. Whether this mountain was Tabor, or some other mountain much nearer Caesarea Philippi, is of no consequence for us to be satisfied in.
Related Commentaries of Matthew 17:8
Matthew 17:8
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.