In an interview with the New York Times (NYT), Oscar-winning actor, Anthony Hopkins, shared how God spoke to him about his drinking problem 50 years ago, Fox News reports.

Hopkins, 87, still remembers the specific date, December 29, 1975, when this life-changing event took place.

He was driving drunk, when it suddenly dawned on him of the potential to hurt someone because of his reckless decisions.

After he phoned his former agent for help, he believed God spoke to him.

“Some deep, powerful thought or voice spoke to me from inside and said: ‘It’s all over. Now you can start living. And it has all been for a purpose, so don’t forget one moment of it,’” Hopkins said in his interview with the NYT.

“It was vocal, male, reasonable, like a radio voice. The craving to drink was taken from me, or left,” Hopkins continued.

“I knew that was a power way beyond my understanding,” Hopkins added later.

Since that encounter 50 years ago, Hopkins quit drinking alcohol.

A few years after this event, he had another what he described as a divine encounter. He was driving in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, when he felt this strong inner compulsion to pull over near a Catholic church.

He went inside and told the young priest, that he had found God.

So the big question is this: Did God speak to him?

Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of God speaking to people who did not believe as Christians understand it.

Below are a few examples:

• King Abimelech was warned in a dream not to touch Abraham’s wife to prevent him from sinning against God. Abimelech had married Sarah after Abraham said she was his sister (Genesis 20:2-12).
• The Pharaoh of Egypt was warned through two prophetic dreams of a coming famine. This paved the way for Joseph to rise to second in command in the country (Genesis 41:17-24).
• God spoke to the magi via dream to avoid returning to King Herod after they found the young Jesus (Matthew 2:12). This was done no doubt to protect Christ. It is generally believed these magi would have been pagan priests in the Persian religion (Daniel 2:2).
• While Pontius Pilate was sitting in judgment over Jesus, his wife sent a message telling her husband of a dream she had. ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered horribly in a dream today on account of Him,’ ” she wrote (Matthew 27:19). This dream probably played a role in Pilate literally and figuratively washing his hands of the decision (Matthew 27:24).

So it is certainly within the realm of possibility that the God spoke to Hopkins.

Based on how Hopkins’ desire for alcohol was instantly taken from him, I believe the Holy Spirit did.

Does this necessarily mean Hopkins is a Christian? No. But if the Holy Spirit spoke to Hopkins, He did it for a purpose.