A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Stephen said to the people, the elders and the scribes,

you stiff-knife people, uncircised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit.

You are just like your ancestors.

Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,

whose betrayers and murderers who have now become. You received the laws transmitted by angels,

but you did not observe it.

When they heard this, they were infuriated,

and they ground their teeth at him.

But Stephen filled with the Holy Spirit,

looked up intently to heaven, and saw the glory of God,

and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

And Stephen said, Behold, I see the heavens opened,

and the son of man standing at the right hand of God.

But they crowd out in a loud voice,

covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.

They threw him out of the city and began to stone him.

The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they were stoning Steve, and he called out,

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice.

Lord, do not hold this sin against them.

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