Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 1:17

"And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last," — Revelation 1:17 (ASV)

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. As if I were dead—deprived of sense and consciousness. He was overwhelmed by the suddenness of the vision; he saw that this was a Divine being, but he did not yet know that it was the Saviour.

It is not probable that in this vision he would immediately recognize any of the familiar features of the Lord Jesus as he had been accustomed to seeing him some sixty years before; and if he did, the effect would have been quite as overpowering as is here described. But the subsequent revelations of this Divine personage seem to imply that John did not at once recognize him as the Lord Jesus.

The effect here described is one that often occurred to those who had a vision of God. See Daniel 8:18: Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.Daniel 8:27 says: And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business. Compare Exodus 33:20; Isaiah 6:5; Ezekiel 1:28; 43:3; Daniel 10:7–9, 17.

And he laid his right hand upon me. This was for the purpose of raising him up. Compare Daniel 8:18: He touched me, and set me upright. We usually stretch out the right hand to raise up one who has fallen.

Saying unto me, Fear not. Compare Matthew 14:27: It is I; be not afraid. The fact that it was the Saviour, though He appeared in this form of overpowering majesty, was a reason why John should not be afraid. Why that was a reason, He immediately adds—that He was the first and the last; that though He had been dead, He was now alive and would continue to live forever, and that He had the keys of hell and of death.

It is evident that John was overpowered with that emotion of profound awe which the human mind must feel at the evidence of God’s presence. Thus people feel when God seems to come near them through the impressive symbols of His majesty—such as in the thunder, the earthquake, and the tempest. Compare Hebrews 12:21; Luke 9:34.

Yet, amidst the most awe-inspiring manifestations of Divine power, the simple assurance that our Redeemer is near us is enough to allay our fears and diffuse calmness through the soul.

I am the first and the last. See the notes on Revelation 1:8.

This is stated to be one of the reasons why he should not fear—that He was eternal: "I always live—have lived through all the past, and will live through all that is to come—and therefore I can accomplish all my promises, and execute all my purposes."