Dedication of the basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

1After these things I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, as it were, of a trumpet speaking with me, said: Come up hither, and I will shew thee the things which must be done hereafter. 2And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting. 3And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the seats, four and twenty ancients sitting, clothed in white garments, and on their heads were crowns of gold. 5And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. 6And in the sight of the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass like to crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind. 7And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an eagle flying. 8And the four living creatures had each of them six wings; and round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come. 9And when those living creatures gave glory, and honour, and benediction to him that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever; 10The four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on the throne, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, and honour, and power: because thou hast created all things; and for thy will they were, and have been created.

11As they were hearing these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately be manifested. 12He said therefore: A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them: Trade till I come. 14But his citizens hated him: and they sent an embassage after him, saying: We will not have this man to reign over us. 15And it came to pass, that he returned, having received the kingdom: and he commanded his servants to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16And the first came, saying: Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17And he said to him: Well done, thou good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a little, thou shalt have power over ten cities. 18And the second came, saying: Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19And he said to him: Be thou also over five cities. 20And another came, saying: Lord, behold here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin; 21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and thou reapest that which thou didst not sow. 22He saith to him: Out of thy own mouth I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow: 23And why then didst thou not give my money into the bank, that at my coming, I might have exacted it with usury? 24And he said to them that stood by: Take the pound away from him, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25And they said to him: Lord, he hath ten pounds. 26But I say to you, that to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: and from him that hath not, even that which he hath, shall be taken from him. 27But as for those my enemies, who would not have me reign over them, bring them hither, and kill them before me. 28And having said these things, he went before, going up to Jerusalem.