Neville Goddard on Acts 11:4-18 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Acts 11 in context

Scripture Focus

4But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

5I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

6Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

7And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

8But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

9But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

10And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

12And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

13And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

15And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 11:4-18

Biblical Context

Peter recounts his vision and confirms that God cleanses what is unclean. He shows that salvation is granted to the Gentiles as repentance unto life.

Neville's Inner Vision

Peter’s trance and the vision are inner allegories. The four corners of the sheet symbolize your fourfold habits and thoughts; what you call unclean in yourself is a belief that has not yet been seen as clean by your consciousness. When the voice declares that what God has cleansed should not be called common, you are being invited to revise your inner classifications. The act of going with the men and the Spirit falling on them represents an inner acceptance that life, power, and grace are not limited to a chosen few but are given to all states of consciousness. The question what was I that I could withstand God becomes a gentle surrender of the ego, recognizing that you cannot resist the divine movement within. The Gentiles equals parts of yourself outside your current circle; their inclusion signals a radical unity with the divine presence here and now. This is repentance unto life, a turning toward living awareness rather than habit or fear.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and assume that every part of you is already cleansed and included in the life of God. In imagination invite the neglected parts to your inner house and speak a life affirming word, feeling the presence of the Spirit move through you.