And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people.9 Now there arose some of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke.†54 Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him.55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.56 And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him.57 And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul.58 And they stoned Stephen, invoking, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.59 And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.
But he was Moses still, even when he was not visible. So also Stephen had already put on the appearance of an angel, although they were none other than his human knees which bent beneath the stoning.
Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17
Ps 30:3-4
Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me.4 For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name’s sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.6 Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.8 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. For thou best regarded my humility, thou hast saved my soul out of distresses.16 My lots are in thy hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies; and from them that persecute me.17 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy mercy.
Let your children take part in the instruction that is in Christ, let them learn how powerful with God is humility, how strong is a pure love, how the fear of him is beautiful and great and saves those who live in it in holiness with a pure mind. For he is a searcher of thoughts and desires; his breath is in us, and when he wills, he will take it away.
But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.†18 And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles:19 But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak.20 For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.21 The brother also shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and shall put them to death.22 And you shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.†
For our faith, observing all the precepts of the Divine will, will be instructed with an answer according to knowledge, after the example of Abraham, to whom when he had given up Isaac, there was not wanting a ram for a victim. For it is not ye who speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)