18:6a

When Jesus said, “I am He,”: Here, after the parenthetical information, the narrative returns to the main story by repeating the last words Jesus had spoken. Indicate the return to the main story in the most natural way in your language. See the General Comment on 18:5–6 after 18:6b for a different way to handle the parenthetical material. In some languages it is more natural to use indirect speech. For example:

When Jesus told them that that he was Jesus of Nazareth
-or-
As soon as Jesus said that he was that one

they drew back and fell to the ground: The crowd of armed men stepped away from Jesus and fell backwards down to the ground. Probably they did this because they felt fear and awe in the presence of Jesus. But the text does not explain why they stepped back. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

they moved back and fell to the ground (Good News Translation)
-or-
the crowd backed away and fell to the ground (God’s Word)

General Comment on 18:5–6

In some languages it may not be natural to repeat the fact that Jesus said, “I am he.” Or you might want to put the parenthetical information in another place. In those languages it may be more natural to combine 8:5–6 and rearrange some of the information. For example:

5–6 “Jesus from-Nazareth,” they answered. “Well I am truly the one,” said Jesus. When he said that, they quickly stepped backward and fell over, along with Judas, who had betrayed him, who was standing with them.

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