While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you him.
Read Chapter 17
Jerome
AD 420
Because Peter had asked imprudently, he does not merit the Lord’s answer. But the Father answered for the Son so that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled: “I do not bear witness for myself, but the Father who sent me, he bears witness for me.” The cloud appears bright and shades them, so that those who were looking for a material booth made from boughs or tents might be protected with the shade of a shining cloud. The voice of the Father speaking from heaven is also heard. It provides testimony and teaches Peter the truth with error removed, and in fact through Peter teaches all the apostles: “This is my beloved Son.” It is for him that you must build the tabernacle, him you must obey. “My Son” is distinguished from his servants, Moses and Elijah. They, along with you, are to prepare a tabernacle for the Lord in the inner sanctum of their heart. .
What then? He Himself speaks nothing, nor Moses, nor Elias, but He that is greater than all, and more worthy of belief, the Father, utters a voice out of the cloud.
Wherefore out of the cloud? Thus does God ever appear. For a cloud and darkness are round about Him; and, He sits on a light cloud; Isaiah 19:1 and again, Who makes clouds His chariot; and, A cloud received Him out of their sight; Acts 1:9 and, As the Son of Man coming in the clouds. Daniel 7:13
In order then that they might believe that the voice proceeds from God, it comes from thence.
And the cloud was bright.
For as, when He threatens, He shows a dark cloud—as on Mount Sinai; for Moses, it is said, entered into the cloud, and into the thick darkness; and as a vapor, so went up the smoke; and the prophet said, when speaking of His threatening, Dark water in clouds of the air; — so here, because it was His desire not to alarm, but to teach, it is a bright cloud.
And whereas Peter had said Let us make three ...
A voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. I am manifested through his preaching. I am glorified through his humility. So listen to him without hesitation. He is the truth and the life. He is my strength and wisdom. “Listen to him” whom the mysteries of the law foreshadowed, of whom the mouths of the prophets sang. “Listen to him” who by his blood redeemed the world, who binds the devil and seizes his vessels, who breaks the debt of sin and the bondage of iniquity. “Listen to him” who opens the way to heaven and by the pain of the cross prepares for you the steps of ascent into his kingdom.
. You, Peter, desire tabernacles made with hands, but the Father has formed around them another tabernacle not made with hands, the cloud, showing that just as He Himself appeared as God in a cloud to the men of old, so also does His Son now appear in a cloud. Here the cloud is bright, not dark as in the time of old, for He desires not to bring fear but to teach. Out of the cloud came the voice, to show that it was of God. "In Whom I am well pleased," that is, in Whom I rest and take pleasure. And He teaches: "Hear ye Him and if He willeth to be crucified, oppose Him not."
