While Peter was talking, a bright cloud came over them. A voice came from the cloud. The voice said, “This (Jesus) is my Son and I love him. I am very pleased with him. Obey him!”
“When a person listens to you, that person is really listening to me. But when a person refuses to accept you, that person is really refusing to accept me. And when a person refuses to accept me, he is refusing to accept the One (God) that sent me.”
The Helper is the Spirit of truth. {\cf2\super [214]} The world cannot accept him. Why? Because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will live in you.
But before people can trust in the Lord for help, they must believe in him. And before people can believe in the Lord, they must hear about him. And for people to hear about the Lord, another person must tell them.
It is the same with you people. You heard the true teaching—the Good News {\cf2\super [5]} about your salvation. When you heard that Good News, you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark on you by giving you the Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [6]} that he promised.
Christ came and preached peace to you people (non-Jews) who were far away \{from God\}. And he preached peace to the people (Jews) who were near \{to God\}.
You have faith in Christ and love God’s people because of the hope you have. You know that the things you hope for are saved for you in heaven. You learned about this hope when you heard the true teaching, the Good News {\cf2\super [3]}
that was told to you. Everywhere in the world that Good News is bringing blessings and growing. This same thing has happened with you since the time you heard that Good News and understood the truth about the grace (kindness) of God.
You must depend on Christ only. Life and strength come from him. You were taught the truth. You must continue to be sure of that true teaching. And always be thankful.