in a few minutes he stopped

[ademoglu]

Hi,

According to Longman Dictionary (http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/in_1):

after followed by a time period is more often used to talk about past events
• After a few minutes he stopped.

in followed by a time period is more often used to talk about future events
• He'll be here in a few minutes.

However, I've come across 'in' in a past structure in the book Jesus of the Future by Alexander C. Parker (page 188):

... JESUS leaned toward him and started to talk to him in a very low voice, so only that man could hear what was being said; in a few minutes HE stoppped in front of another leader and said ...

I feel confused. Could you please tell me which one I should use?

Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

Use "after".

 

[GoesStation]

Your reference does say "more often" in both entries. Going with the majority is a safe bet.

 

[emsr2d2]

I find the author's use of "in" unnatural.

 

[Tdol]

But more often does not mean that this is the only possible meaning. I agree that this is an odd sentence, though.