God has frequently made use of dreams in communicating his will to men. The most remarkable instances of this are recorded in the history of Jacob ( Genesis 28:12 ; 31:10 ), Laban ( 31:24 ), Joseph ( 37:9-11 ), Gideon (Judg. 7), and Solomon ( 1 Kings 3:5 ). Other significant dreams are also recorded, such as those of Abimelech ( Genesis 20:3-7 ), Pharaoh's chief butler and baker ( 40:5 ), Pharaoh ( 41:1-8 ), the Midianites ( Judges 7:13 ), Nebuchadnezzar ( Daniel 2:1 ; Daniel 4:10 Daniel 4:18 ), the wise men from the east ( Matthew 2:12 ), and Pilate's wife ( 27:19 ).
To Joseph "the Lord appeared in a dream," and gave him instructions regarding the infant Jesus ( Matthew 1:20 ; Matthew 2:12 Matthew 2:13 Matthew 2:19 ). In a vision of the night a "man of Macedonia" stood before Paul and said, "Come over into Macedonia and help us" ( Acts 16:9 ; see also 18:9 ; 27:23 ).