Notes on Dreams in the New Testament

In the New Testament dreams are mentioned seven times and four of them are to Joseph concerning care and safekeeping of the baby Jesus and a fifth to the Magi was also for the safety of baby Jesus. The sixth refers to end times and the other was to Pilate's wife. She was moved to the defense of Jesus because of her dream. I note that angelophanys or divine revelation in dreams was rare even in Jesus' time on earth. I also note that the 6 revalational dreams are in Matthew.

References to Dreams in the New Testament

Matthew 1:20

Matthew 2:12

Matthew 2:13

Matthew 2:17 - 20

Matthew 2:22

Matthew 27:19

Acts 2:17


Matthew 1:20

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.


Matthew 2:12

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.


Matthew 2:13

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."


Matthew 2:17 - 20

17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." [7]

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

7.[18] Jer. 31:15


Matthew 2:22

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.
Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,


Matthew 27:19

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message:
"Don't have anything to do with that innocent man,
for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."


Acts 2:17

17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

To Understand my faith better I have decided to construct these pages. They are strictly educational, non-commercial and to foster scholarly discussion. All Bible quotes are from the New International Version unless otherwise stated. I use the NIV because while not a perfect translation, certainly the best available. All mistakes are my own and if you differ from my thoughts I welcome your comments. J. Barry O'Connell Jr.