Seeing Visions: The Persuasive Power of Sight in the Acts of the Apostles

Abstract

Visions play a central role in Acts, as evidenced in the Joel quotation in Peter’s Pentecost speech (Acts 2.17). Although the speeches have received more scholarly attention, the many vision accounts reveal an emphasis on sight that is often overlooked by interpreters focused on the prevalence of speech. This article explores the sensory nature of the narratives at the center of Acts, the visions of Saul and Ananias (ch. 9) and Cornelius and Peter (ch. 10), in order to clarify (1) the complex relationship of seeing and hearing in Hellenistic literature, and (2) the rhetorical function of these visions in the narrative of Acts. A brief review of ancient rhetorical and historical literature demonstrates a strong relationship between seeing and hearing in persuasive communication. This subtle interplay between vision and word is evident in the visions of Acts and is a key component of their rhetorical effectiveness.