Daniel 10:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I, Daniel, was the only one who beheld the vision; the men accompanying me were unable to perceive it, yet a profound fear overtook them, causing them to flee and seek refuge. Similarly, the apostle Paul encountered an experience where he alone witnessed the vision, as recorded in Acts (Acts 9), while those around him did not perceive it.

Some might wonder why they ran away without witnessing the vision. It’s likely that the absence of sight made them more fearful; when they encountered no one but heard a loud voice, their instinct was to escape. The Prophet refers to this "terror" not merely as fear, but as a form of blindness as well. This mirrors the experience of the blessed Paul on the road to Damascus, who was enveloped by a great light. Those traveling with him saw nothing at all; they could only hear the voice. Similarly, those who were around the divine Prophet, upon hearing only the voice, fled, leaving him alone. For he states: