Neville Goddard on Acts 26:9-18 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Acts 26 in context

Scripture Focus

9I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Acts 26:9-18

Biblical Context

Paul recounts his past zeal against the Jesus movement and his role in imprisoning believers. A sudden heavenly light and voice redirect his course, inaugurating a new mission as minister and witness.

Neville's Inner Vision

Within this story, the outer events mirror your inner state. Saul’s self-justifying intention, 'I ought to do many things contrary to the name,' is the picture of a mind held in disbelief about its own power. The light that shone above the brightness of the sun is the awakening fire of awareness—the I AM—redefining identity. The fall to the earth and the voice speaking 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' is your inner resistance yielding to a higher command, a reminder that you cannot kick against the pricks of truth. Rise, and stand upon thy feet: this is the moment you choose to occupy a new state of being, to act from the I AM rather than the old self-image. Delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles symbolizes deliverance from limiting beliefs and attachments, and your mission becomes a witness to the light you now know. Faith in the I AM sanctifies the past by a living vision, and your consciousness becomes the instrument through which others are shown the path from darkness to light.

Practice This Now

Imaginative Act: Sit quietly and assume the state of being the I AM, seeing a radiant light open the eyes of your inner self; end with the feeling, 'I am now a minister and witness of this light.'