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.
Moreover, the prison keeper awakened from his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell before Paul and Silas, and brought them out of the Jail, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they replied Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Moreover, Paul and Silas spoke unto him the word of the Lord and to all that were in his house. The Jailer took them the same hour of the night, washed their stripes, and baptized them immediately, and all his family.
Furthermore, when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. And, when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul; The magistrates have said to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. But, Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly, uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? Nay verily, but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
Moreover, the serjeants said these words unto the magistrates: they feared when they heard that they were Romans. Moreover, they came and sought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. And, they left the prison and entered Lydia's house: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed. (Acts 16:19-40)
That account mentioned in Acts 16 is probably what Silas was most remembered for, but did you know that he contributed much to the cause of Christ and was an active participant and leader not only in the Church but also on Paul's second missionary journey (49-52 A.D.)? That journey went through modern-day Turkey, starting in Antioch, going through Greece, and then home. Here are some of the highlights in the Bible about Silas.
Paul Chooses Silas to Travel with Him
Read Acts 15:22-40. We first are introduced to Silas in Acts chapter 15, where we learn that he is one of the "chiefs among the brethren" (a leader in the Church). Here, we learn that he was also one of the "chosen men" to go to the Gentile Christians in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia to speak about how the Law of Moses was not to be observed by the Gentile Christians. Along with Judas Barsabas, Silas was to take this message to back up what Paul and Barnabas had previously told them. The people heard the words of Silas and Judas and then peacefully let them go back to the apostles; however, Silas remained with Paul and Barnabas to teach and preach the word of the Lord.
Not many days later, Paul suggested to Barnabas, "let us revisit all of the churches they had planted during Paul's first missionary journey to see how they were doing. At this time, Barnabas wanted to take his cousin John Mark along, but Paul was opposed to this because John Mark had abandoned them when they were in Pamphylia (Acts 13:17). Paul and Barnabas had such a massive argument that Paul decided to take Silas with him while Barnabas took John Mark and went on a separate journey. And so began Paul's Second Missionary Journey with his companion Silas.
Silas Contributes to the Conversion of Many
During the missionary journey when Silas went with Paul, we can see several people mentioned in the Bible that came to know Christ, including:
• Achaicus (1 Cor 16:17)
• Chloe (1 Cor 1:11)
• Crispus (Acts 18:8)
• Erastus (Rom 16:23)
• Fortunatus (1 Cor 16:17)
• Gaius (1 Cor 1:14)
• Phoebe (Rom 16:1)
• Quartus (Rom 16:23)
• Sosthenes (1 Cor 1:1)
• Stephanas (1 Cor 16:15)
• Tertius (Rom 16:22)
• The Jailer (Acts 16:30-31)
Other mentions of Silas (Silvanus)
"Moreover, when they had taken security of Jason and the other, they let them go. Furthermore, the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were nobler than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore, many of them believed in honorable women who were Greeks and men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that Paul preached the word of God at Berea, they came thither also and stirred up the people." (Acts 17:9–13)
Mentioned by Paul
"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by Silvanus and me and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea." (2 Corinthians 1:19)
"PAUL, Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:1)
"PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:" (2 Thessalonians 1:1)
Deliverer of Peters Letter to the Church at Asia Minor
"Resist him, standing firm in your faith and the knowledge that brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you. To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen. Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. The Church in Babylon, chosen with you, sends you greetings, as does my son Mark." (1 Peter 5:9–13)
By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting" (1 Peter 5:9–13) and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. The Church at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
Silas-in-the-bible
• Silas and Silvanus are the same people. Acts refer to him as Silas, whereas Paul and Peter use Silvanus.
• Silas is a Jewish name; Silvanus is the Latin form.
• Silas is first mentioned in Acts as a companion to Judas Barsabbas. (See Acts 15:22) Judas and Silas are called prophets, but Judas plays no additional role outside this story.
• Silas and Judas were the two individuals chosen by the apostles from Jerusalem to accompany Barnabas and Paul back to Antioch.
• Both Silas and Judas are described as "leaders among the brothers."
• They carried with them the letter delineating the decision resulting from the Jerusalem Council.
• Their role was to confirm the contents of the letter orally.
• In addition, they comforted the brothers and "strengthened" them in Antioch.
• Eventually, they returned to Jerusalem. (Some manuscripts read that Silas remained behind.)
• However, shortly after that, Barnabas had a falling out with Paul, and Paul chose Silas to accompany him on another missionary journey.
• Since Silas was a leader from Jerusalem, he was well qualified to speak with authority on Jerusalem policy matters.
• As Paul, Silas was also a Roman citizen and could claim the privileges accorded to such citizens throughout the empire.
• He also seemed to be fluent in Greek.
• The Antioch church sent them out with their blessings.
• Silas and Paul began by revisiting churches in Syria and Cilicia.
• From there, they made their way to Derbe and Lystra, where Timothy was added to their group.
• They continued throughout Phrygia and Galatia, but then the spirit beckoned Paul into Macedonia, and they immediately went there.
• Silas and Paul were both dragged into the marketplace in Philippi to face the authorities.
• They were ordered to be stripped and beaten; those orders were carried out. (Apparently, Timothy and any other companions were not involved. Some see this as an example of anti-Semitism since Timothy, and possibly the others, was half Greek.)
• Even though they were imprisoned, Silas joined Paul singing hymns past midnight.
• When the earthquake loosed all their chains, the Jailer fell before Paul and Silas, asking what he needed to do to be saved.
• Paul and Silas instructed him; eventually, the Jailer took them home to wash their wounds.
• The Jailer and all his family were baptized that night.
• When the magistrates officially released them the following morning, Paul announced that he and Silas were Roman citizens (therefore should not have been imprisoned or flogged).
• The magistrates were alarmed and tried to appease them, Howevereventually escaping prison.
• Before Paul and Silas left town, they spent some time with Lydia.
• Paul and Silas moved into Thessalonica, where they also preached.
• Some "jealous" Jews stormed the home of their host, Jason, and dragged him off to the authorities.
• The authorities made Jason post bond, which meant there would be no repeat of the troubles in Philippi.
• Paul and Silas left quietly, not wanting to get Jason into trouble.
• Their next stop was Berea, where they again preached in the synagogue.
• The Bereans were very receptive until the Jews from Thessalonica heard about it and stirred up the crowd.
• Paul left for the coast, but Timothy and Silas stayed behind. (Perhaps Silas wasn't as forceful as Paul.)
• Eventually, Silas rejoined Paul in Athens and went back to Philippi.
• Silas was given their gift of money to collect for the poor in Jerusalem.
• Sometime later, Silas (and Timothy) rejoined Paul in Corinth. His arrival meant Paul could devote himself completely to preaching (suggesting that Silas brought money from the Philippians to support Paul).
• In response to Timothy's good report, Paul wrote I Thessalonians, giving gratitude for their growth and acknowledging the threefold witness of Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
• Because Paul frequently used "we" in that letter, some have speculated that Silas might have been a contributing author.
• Even though Pauline authorship of II Thessalonians is disputed, it is noteworthy that it includes a threefold greeting from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
• Some scholars believe that Silas might have helped Peter write I Peter, since the author claimed to have written the letter "through Silas." (Arguments that claim this is a gentle way of saying he was the real author have yet to be entirely accepted.)
• Most scholars, however, think the quality of Greek in I Peter exceeded that which would be expected of a fisherman, whereas Silas was undoubtedly well educated.
• Most scholars suppose that Silas and Paul parted company after Corinth in either event. It is possible that Silas continued his ministry, hooking up with Peter since they were both leaders of the Jerusalem church at one point.
• It is also possible that Peter and Silas then continued to minister in those areas that Paul had neglected.
• No additional information is available about his death.
Silas and Paul traveled on to Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth. Silas proved to be a vital member of the missionary team, Paul, Timothy, and Luke.
Silas may be derived from the Latin "sylvan," meaning "woody." However, it is also a shortened form of Silvanus, which appears in some Bible translations. Some Bible scholars call him a Hellenistic (Greek) Jew, but others speculate Silas must have been a Hebrew. He was a gifted preacher, a loyal traveling companion, and strong in faith.
Life Lessons from Silas
A glimpse into Silas' character can be seen after he and Paul had been viciously beaten with rods at Philippi, then thrown into prison and locked in stocks. They prayed and sang hymns. A miraculous earthquake, along with their fearless behavior, helped convert the Jailer and his entire household. Unbelievers are always watching Christians. How we act influences them more than we realize. Silas showed us how to be an attractive representative of Jesus Christ.
References to Silas in the Bible
Acts 15:22, 27, 32, 34, 40; 16:19, 25, 29; 17:4, 10, 14-15; 18:5; 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12.
Key Verses
Acts 15:32
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. (NIV)
Acts 16:25
About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (NIV)
1 Peter 5:12
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. (NIV)
For Reflection
Sometimes in life, when everything seems to be going right, suddenly the bottom falls out. Silas and Paul had this experience on one of their successful missionary journeys. People were coming to faith in Christ and getting set free from demons. Then, abruptly, the crowd turned. The men were beaten, thrown into prison, and bound with stocks on their feet. What did they do amid their troubles? They trusted God and began to sing praises. When all hell breaks loose in your life, how do you react? Can you sing in times of struggle, trusting God will lead and bless you even on your darkest days?
No information is available on Silas' birthplace, family, or the time and cause of his death.
Summary of This Article (Silas)
Final Thoughts
Silas was indeed a leader and a brave man. He was a man who served the Lord with the gifts he had been given. The apostles loved and supported him and called him "faithful." He "exhorted" (strongly encouraged) his brothers to do right (Acts 15:32). His enthusiasm allowed him to spend extra time in Corinth, even after Paul left that city. He must have been a great companion!
Strengths
Silas was open-minded, believing that Gentiles should be brought into the Church as Paul did. As a Roman citizen, he enjoyed the same legal protections as Paul. He was utterly dedicated to his ministry, which is probably the reason that he had risen so quickly in the Jerusalem church.
Magistrates learned that both Paul and Silas were Roman citizens; the rulers were afraid because of how they had treated them. They apologized and let the two men go.
Silas and Paul traveled on to Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth. Silas proved to be a vital member of the missionary team, including Paul, Timothy, and Luke.
Silas may be derived from the Latin "sylvan," meaning "woody." However, it is also a shortened form of Silvanus, which appears in some Bible translations. Some Bible scholars call him a Hellenistic (Greek) Jew, but others speculate Silas must have been a Hebrew He was a gifted preacher, loyal traveling companion, and strong in his faith.
Life Lessons from Silas
A glimpse into Silas' character can be seen after he and Paul had been viciously beaten with rods at Philippi, then thrown into prison and locked in stocks. They prayed and sang hymns. A miraculous earthquake, along with their fearless behavior, helped convert the Jailer and his entire household. Unbelievers are always watching Christians. How we act influences them more than we realize. Silas showed us how to be an attractive representative of Jesus Christ.
References to Silas in the Bible
Acts 15:22, 27, 32, 34, 40; 16:19, 25, 29; 17:4, 10, 14-15; 18:5; 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12.
Key Verses
Acts 15:32
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. (NIV)
Acts 16:25
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. (NIV)
1 Peter 5:12
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. (NIV)
For Reflection
Sometimes in life, when everything seems to be going right, suddenly the bottom falls out. Silas and Paul had this experience on one of their successful missionary journeys. People were coming to faith in Christ and getting set free from demons. Then, abruptly, the crowd turned. The men were beaten, thrown into prison, and bound with stocks on their feet. What did they do amid their troubles? They trusted God and began to sing praises. When all hell breaks loose in your life, how do you react? Can you sing in times of struggle, trusting God will lead and bless you even on your darkest days?
No information is available on Silas' birthplace, family, or the time and cause of his death.
