Chapter Five. Dream-Visions In The Acts Of The Apostles

Abstract

This chapter examines the salient features of each dream-vision in Acts of the Apostles and its role in the narrative context. The chapter focuses on character reactions and responses to dream-visions as indications of the perception of God’s will. Most interesting for the chapter are the visionary encounters nearing the other end of the spectrum vision scenes in which characters interpret their experiences more extensively. In two of the central stories of Acts, the conversion/call of Saul and the Cornelius– Peter episode, descriptions of the ways in which characters interpret their experiences, and thereby perceive the will of God, are a matter of great concern in the narrative requiring significantly more narrative time than the visions themselves. The narrative time devoted to the characters’ filtered interpretation of events underscores the importance of these interpretations within Luke’s story.Keywords: acts of the Apostles; Cornelius–Peter episode; dream-vision; god’s will; Luke’s story; Saul’s conversion/call