First Reading

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 22, 30; 23, 6-11

In those days, the commander, wanting to know exactly what the Jews were accusing Paul of, ordered his chains to be removed, summoned the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin, and taking Paul with him, brought him before them.

Since Paul knew that part of the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and another part Pharisees, he exclaimed: «Brothers: I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees, and they want to judge me because I hope in the resurrection of the dead».

As soon as he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, which caused the assembly to divide. (Because the Sadducees deny the afterlife, whether of angels or resurrected spirits; while the Pharisees accept both). Then a terrible uproar broke out, and some scribes of the Pharisee party stood up and declared forcefully: «We find no fault in this man. Who can say that a spirit or an angel has not spoken to him?»

The uproar reached such a level that the commander, fearing they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the troops to be brought in to take him out of there and escort him to the barracks.

The following night the Lord appeared to Paul and said: «Take courage, Paul; for just as you have borne witness to me in Jerusalem, so too must you bear witness in Rome».

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John

John 17, 20-26

At that time, Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: «Father, I pray not only for my disciples, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that all may be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so that they may be one in us and the world may believe that you have sent me.

I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one. I am in them and you in me, so that their unity may be perfect and thus the world may know that you have sent me and that you love them, as you love me.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they may behold my glory, the one you gave me, because you have loved me since before the creation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world has not known you; but I know you and these have known that you sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you love me may be in them and I also in them».