June 5, 2025, Memorial of St. Boniface, Bishop, and Martyr.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,

the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedron to convene.

Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.

Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,

so he called out before the Sanhedron,

My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees.

I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.

When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits,

while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.

A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply

argued,

We find nothing wrong with this man.

Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him.

The dispute was so serious that the commander,

afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by

them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him into

the compound.

The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, Take courage.

For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,

...