Writers often question whether ending the introduction with "the following" makes the clause an independent one.
When I asked him, he shouted the following: "nope!". The priestess whispered the following: "Take them to the pit.". Often the phrase "the following" is added to make the introduction an independent clause. When I asked him, he shouted just one word: "nope!". The largest of the aliens repeated his message: "We come in peace. The minister always said the same thing: "The next time I stand up here, I will have answers to these questions.". You can use a colon before a quotation when the introduction is an independent clause (i.e., a clause that could stand alone as a sentence). (Guideline 1) When the introduction is an independent clause Read more about selecting the right verb of attribution on the page about quotations. 
These are worth knowing because colons are more stark than commas, which means they force a micro-pause that makes the quotation the star of the sentence. The default position is to use a comma, but here are some guidelines on when a colon can be used. Guidance for Using a Colon before a Quotation There is a lot of leniency on which punctuation to use before a quotation, especially in creative writing, and writers should choose the punctuation that gives them their desired flow of text. Such an introduction can be followed by nothing, a comma, or a colon to separate it from the quotation. Quotations are often introduced with terms like "He said," "She whispered," and "They shouted" (the verbs in these introductions are called verbs of attribution). (In this example, the quotation (highlighted) is an independent clause, so the colon is justified.)
He said: " There is no way I am jumping.". (Here, the colon is justified because the introduction (highlighted) is an independent clause.) Strictly speaking, you should only use a colon before a quotation when the introduction is an independent clause or the quotation itself is a complete sentence. Writers often ask whether they should use a comma, a colon, or nothing when introducing a quotation.
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