May 17, 2018

The Act of the Apostles 22: 30; 23: 6-11

22:30 But on the next day, wanting to discover more diligently what the reason was that he was accused by the Jews, he released him, and he ordered the priests to convene, with the entire council. And, producing Paul, he stationed him among them

23:6 Now Paul, knowing that one group were Sadducees and the other were Pharisees, exclaimed in the council: “Noble brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is over the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am being judged.”
23:7 And when he had said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And the multitude was divided.
23:8 For the Sadducees claim that there is no resurrection, and neither angels, nor spirits. But the Pharisees confess both of these.
23:9 Then there occurred a great clamor. And some of the Pharisees, rising up, were fighting, saying: “We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?”
23:10 And since a great dissension had been made, the tribune, fearing that Paul might be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to descend and to seize him from their midst, and to bring him into the fortress.
23:11 Then, on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said: “Be constant. For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so also it is necessary for you to testify at Rome.”

The Holy Gospel According John 17: 20-26

17:20 But I am not praying for them only, but also for those who through their word shall believe in me.
17:21 So may they all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, so also may they be one in us: so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
17:22 And the glory that you have given to me, I have given to them, so that they may be one, just as we also are one.
17:23 I am in them, and you are in me. So may they be perfected as one. And may the world know that you have sent me and that you have loved them, just as you have also loved me.
17:24 Father, I will that where I am, those whom you have given to me may also be with me, so that they may see my glory which you have given to me. For you loved me before the founding of the world.
17:25 Father most just, the world has not known you. But I have known you. And these have known that you sent me.
17:26 And I have made known your name to them, and I will make it known, so that the love in which you have loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.”