Neville Goddard on Acts 12:1-23 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Acts 12 in context

Scripture Focus

1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

6And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

7And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

8And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

9And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

11And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

12And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

13And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

14And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

15And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

16But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

17But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

19And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

20And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.

21And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

22And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

23And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Acts 12:1-23

Biblical Context

Herod persecutes the church; Peter is imprisoned but the church prays without ceasing. An angel frees Peter, he is delivered, and the narrative ends with judgment upon his captors and subsequent unrest among the people.

Neville's Inner Vision

Think of the prison as a mind-state, a stubborn belief in separation. Herod and the soldiers are your fear and habit-energy, erecting gates and chains around the awake I AM. The angel is awareness that lightens the cell, not a rescue outside but a turning of attention. Peter sits between two guards, yet his true center remains untouched by time or place. When the light shines, the chains fall because you awaken to your native liberty: the condition of your consciousness creates the conditions you see. The iron gate opens, not by mere mechanism, but by a shift in inner certainty. Peter's awakening is your own: you were never truly confined; you were dreaming a state of lack. As you declare, 'The Lord has delivered me,' you acknowledge the inner decree that governs all outward events. The church's prayer is the collective mood of faith that invites the miracle by first accepting it in imagination. Your real prison is a belief, and your real deliverance is a restoration to the I AM.

Practice This Now

Imaginative Act: Sit in stillness and affirm, 'I am free now' until the body and breath register the truth. If fear arises, revise it by softly saying, 'I Am the door that opens; I choose liberty here and now.'