Neville Goddard on Acts 10:9-20 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Acts 10 in context

Scripture Focus

9On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

18And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Acts 10:9-20

Biblical Context

Peter experiences a trance with a vision of unclean animals, shifting his perception of what is permissible; the Spirit then directs him to Cornelius, expanding his mission beyond prior boundaries.

Neville's Inner Vision

Peter's vision is not about food, but about the state of consciousness that defines what is 'clean' and what is 'unclean.' In Neville's world, the sheet is your inner panorama, the four corners marking the four quarters of your life, descending to awaken awareness to possibilities you have denied as not for you. The voice equals the I AM within, saying what God has cleansed, you must not call common. This is the moment you revise your own identifications: judgments about others, about what can be included in your life, about what is possible. The three messengers arriving represent circumstance converging to verify your inner shift; the doubt Peter feels dissolves when you realize the vision was preparing him to act in accord with divine leadings, not to interpret its meaning intellectually. The Spirit's instruction, Behold, three men seek thee, becomes your invitation to cross your internal thresholds and follow inward guidance outwardly. Your task, then, is to awaken to your unity with the field that produces events, and to trust that your revised sense of self invites others into your circle of influence.

Practice This Now

Sit in stillness and imagine a sheet descending with all your judgments about what is clean or unclean. Hear the inner voice, 'What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common,' and see three figures approaching—your circumstances inviting you to follow inner guidance beyond former boundaries.