Book of Common Prayer

Paul is taken up into the third heaven and hears words not to be spoken of.

12 No doubt it is not seemly for me to boast. Nevertheless, I will come to visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ about fourteen years ago (whether he was in the body I cannot tell, or whether he was out of the body I cannot tell, God knows) who was taken up into the third heaven. ³ And I know the same man (whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell, God knows), ⁴ how he was taken up into Paradise and heard words not to be spoken, which no man can utter. ⁵ Of this man I will boast. Of myself I will not boast, unless it be of my infirmities. ⁶ And yet if I chose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. Nevertheless, I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be, or hears from me.

⁷ And lest I should be unduly lifted up through the greatness of the revelations, there was given to me unquietness of the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me – because I should not be unduly lifted up. ⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord three times, to put it from me. ⁹ And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect through weakness. Very gladly therefore will I rest in my weakness, so that the strength of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am content in infirmities, in reproach, in need, in persecutions, in anguish, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

²⁸ And when Jesus had thus spoken, he went on ahead, ascending up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ And it so was, when he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, ³⁰ saying, Go into the town which is in front of you, in which, as soon as you enter, you will find a colt tied, on which no man ever yet sat. Untie him and bring him here. ³¹ And if anyone asks you why you are untying him, thus say to him: The Lord has need of him.

³² Those who were sent went their way and found it just as he had said to them. ³³ And as they were untying the colt, the owners said to them, Why are you untying the colt? ³⁴ And they said, Because the Lord has need of him.

³⁵ And they brought him to Jesus. And they cast their cloaks on the colt and set Jesus thereon. ³⁶ And as he went, people spread their cloaks in the way. ³⁷ And when he came now to where he was to descend from the Mount of Olives, the whole number of the disciples began to rejoice, and to laud God with a loud voice for all the miracles that they had seen, ³⁸ saying, Blessed be the king that comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!

³⁹ And some of the Pharisees in the company said to him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. ⁴⁰ He answered and said to them, I tell you, if these held their peace, the stones would cry out.