Silas Series

Silas

Paul settled in Antioch, where he continued to work with the people to live a happy life by the gospel. However, Paul felt that the Holy Spirit was working in the Church, so that it was time to go out and spread the gospel of Jesus. So he went out to be a missionary, and on one of his journeys, his excellent friend Silas joined him. These two told all the people they met that Jesus could do something utterly new in them.

But not everyone liked what Paul and Silas were doing, so they imprisoned them. Despite all the intricate and demanding things they experienced, they never complained. On the contrary, songs of praise were heard from the darkest dungeon where they were being held. Then there was an earthquake that opened the doors of the prison. How was this possible? Well, thankfulness is a power. A heavenly power that drives away darkness and doubt and lets in the powers of faith and light. By choosing to be thankful, all dark and gloomy thoughts are excluded. I become happy, and life becomes good and bright.

Silas is first mentioned in Acts 15:22, where the church elders selected him and Judas Barsabbas (known often as 'Judas') to return with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch following Jerusalem Council. Silas and Judas are leaders among the brothers, prophets, and encouraging speakers.

Silas was a leader in the early Church, a fellow missionary with Paul, and a "faithful brother" (1 Peter 5:12). He was a Hellenistic Jew who, it seems, was also a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37). He is also referred to as "Silvanus" in Paul's Epistles (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 1:1).

When we first meet Silas in Scripture, he is a leader and teacher in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:22, 32). After the Jerusalem Council, Silas was chosen to help communicate the council's decision to Antioch and the apostle Paul. Soon afterward, Paul set out on his second missionary journey, and he chose Silas to accompany him (Acts 15:40-41).

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Silas was a bold missionary in the early Church, a companion of the Apostle Paul, and a loyal servant of Jesus Christ. Silas accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys to the Gentiles and converted many to Christianity. He also may have served as a scribe, delivering Peter's first letter to churches in Asia Minor.

The Story of Silas in the Bible

The first mention of Silas in the Bible describes him as a "leader among the brothers" (Acts 15:22). A bit later, he is called a prophet. Along with Judas Barsabbas, he was sent from Jerusalem to accompany Paul and Barnabas to the Church at Antioch, where they were to confirm the decision of the Jerusalem Council. That decision, monumental at the time, said new converts to Christianity did not have to be circumcised.

After that task was accomplished, a sharp dispute arose between Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas wanted to take Mark (John Mark) on a missionary journey, but Paul refused because Mark had deserted him in Pamphylia. Barnabas sailed to Cyprus with Mark, but Paul chose Silas and went to Syria and Cilicia. The unexpected consequence was two missionary teams spreading the gospel twice as far.

In Philippi, Paul cast a demon out of a female fortune-teller, ruining the power of that local favorite. Paul and Silas were severely beaten and cast into prison, and their feet put in stocks. Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God when an earthquake broke the doors open, and everyone's chains fell off. Paul and Silas shared the gospel, converting the terrified Jailer.

There, in a dark and damaged prison cell, the message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ, once proclaimed by Peter to a Centurion in Caesarea, came to another Gentile member of the Roman army. Paul and Silas not only explained the gospel to the Jailer but to the others in his house. That night the entire household believed and was baptized.

Acts 16:19–40 tells the story of Silas and Paul from the point where they are accused of causing trouble in Antioch until they leave the city to resume their missionary journey.

When her (female fortune teller) masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, and brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. Then the multitude rose against them: frustrated magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to beat them. Furthermore, when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the prison's foundations were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed. Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God at midnight, and the prisoners heard them.