Cyril of Alexandria

He asks them again a second time, of set purpose, that He might show the extent of the blindness He had put in their minds. For they were robbed of their right judgment, and had their minds, as it were, deranged by their impiety, and knew not that they were speaking to Him Whom they sought. Christ, indeed, proved by His actions the truth of what He professed: I am, He says, the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 11 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

See how until the last hour the Lord does not abandon His love for the disciples. "If," He says, "you seek Me, let these go their way."

Commentary on John ↗

Augustine of Hippo

"If ye seek me," He says, "let these go their way." He sees His enemies, and they do what He bids them: they let those go their way, whom He would not have perish.

Tractates on John 112 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

He offers himself when he says, if you seek me, to arrest me, then do what you want, but let these men go, my disciples, for it is not yet their time to be taken from the world by suffering: "I do not pray that you should take them out of the world" (17:15). It is clear from this that Christ gave them the power to capture him, for just as he saved his disciples by his own power, so, much more clearly, he could have saved himself: "No one takes it [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord" (10:18).

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

"Jesus answered them: I told you that I am he." And because you did not recognize me then, I say it again, so that you may recognize me. They were blinded, lest they recognize him, as in the last chapter of Luke: "Their eyes were held, lest they recognize him." After he offered himself, he freed the disciples by his command alone: whence he adds: "If you seek me, let these go." Augustine: "He commands the enemies, and they do what he commands: they let those go whom he does not will to perish."

Commentary on John, Chapter 18 ↗