A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.

Certain members of the so-called synagogue of freedmen, Syrians, and Alexandrians,

and the people from Sicilia and Asia came forward and debated with Stephen,

but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. Then they instigated

some men to say, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. They stirred up the

people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sehedron.

They presented false witnesses who testified, this man never stopped saying things against this

holy place and the law. for we have heard him claim that

this Jesus, the Nazarean, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed

down to us. All those who sat in the Sahedron looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

The word of the Lord.

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.

Though princes meet and talk against me,

your servant meditates on your statutes.

Yes, your decrees are my delight.

They are my counselors.

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.

I declared my ways and you answered me, teach me your statutes. Make me understand

the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds. Blessed are they who follow

the law of the Lord. Remove from me the way of falsehood and favor me with your law, the way of truth I have chosen, I have set

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