Angels often startle people and make them afraid when they appear

Daniel 10:4-8  On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.
Luke 1:12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 

Luke 2:9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them (the shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Matthew 29:2-4 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

Gill notes how in the case of Zechariah he was troubled, and fear fell upon him; for such appearances of angels were not now so common as formerly: and when they were more usual, generally had such effects on the minds, even of good men and in the case of the shepherds - at the sight of such a personage, and at such unusual light and glory about them: they ... not used to such appearances ... were awed with the majesty of God, of which these were symbols, and were conscious to themselves of their own sinfulness and frailty.