The Apocalypse of Paul

The Apocalypse of Paul

[The Coptic vision of Paul’s ascent through the heavens; preserved with damage. Distinct from the longer Vision of Paul filed elsewhere.]

As Paul went up on the road to Jericho, the Spirit met him on the mountain, in the form of a small child, and said, Paul, where are you going? And Paul answered, I am going to Jerusalem, to the brethren. The Spirit said, Open your mind, Paul, and know who I am; come, that I may show you the way of the ascent. [Text missing]

And Paul was taken up. In the fourth heaven he saw the angels driving a soul up from the land of the dead, and they set it before the judge; and witnesses came forward and testified against it concerning the sins it had done, and it was cast down again into a body prepared for it. [Line damaged]

He went up to the fifth heaven, and saw the angels with whips of fire driving the souls to the judgment; and to the sixth, where a light shone; and to the seventh, where he saw an old man on a throne of light, whose garment was brighter than the sun, who asked him, Where are you going, Paul, you blessed one, set apart from your mother’s womb? Paul looked to the Spirit, and the Spirit said to him, Give him the sign that you have, and he will open to you. And Paul gave the sign, and the gate was opened.

He went up to the eighth heaven, where the twelve apostles met him and greeted him, and they ascended together; and to the ninth; and to the tenth, where his fellow spirits greeted him, and he beheld the glory that no eye can bear. [Text missing]

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