Silas (Acts 15:22–35; Acts 15:36–41; Acts 16:19–40; Acts 17:1–15; Acts 18:1–5; 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12)

Chief Man and Prophet, Paul's Companion

One of the chief men among the brethren at Jerusalem, sent to Antioch with the letter about the Gentiles, whom Paul chose as his companion; he is beaten and imprisoned with Paul at Philippi, and a Silvanus named in the letters is usually read as the same man.

Silas enters Acts when “it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren” (Acts 15:22). At Antioch, “Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them” (Acts 15:32).

After Paul and Barnabas part, “Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord” (Acts 15:40). At Philippi Paul and Silas are dragged before the rulers, beaten and put in the inner prison; “about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God” (Acts 16:25). Acts then has him at Thessalonica, Beroea and Corinth (Acts 17:4, 17:14, 18:5).

In the letters the name is Silvanus: “by me and Silvanus and Timothy” (2 Corinthians 1:19), and “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy” (1 Thessalonians 1:1), and again in 2 Thessalonians 1:1. A further letter speaks of “Silvanus, our faithful brother” (1 Peter 5:12). The letters do not say Silvanus is Silas; reading them as one man is the usual view.

Strengths

• Standing among the brethren
• Exhortation as a prophet
• Praise in prison
• Steadfastness under suffering

Themes

• Fellowship in mission
• Suffering for the gospel
• Prophetic exhortation
• Companions of Paul

Sent from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 15:22–35)

The apostles, elders and church choose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas to go to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, carrying a letter; they exhort the brethren and are dismissed in peace.

Sent from Jerusalem to Antioch

“We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth” (Acts 15:27).

At Antioch “Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them” (Acts 15:32), and after some time “they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth” (Acts 15:33).

Paul chooses Silas (Acts 15:36–41)

After a sharp contention between Paul and Barnabas over John called Mark, they part; Paul chooses Silas and goes through Syria and Cilicia.

Paul chooses Silas

“And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus; but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord” (Acts 15:39–40).

“And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches” (Acts 15:41).

Beaten and put in prison at Philippi (Acts 16:19–24)

Dragged into the marketplace before the rulers, Paul and Silas are beaten with rods and put in the inner prison with their feet in the stocks.

Midnight in the prison, and release (Acts 16:25–40)

Paul and Silas pray and sing; an earthquake opens the doors; the jailor and his house believe and are baptized; the magistrates ask them to leave, and they go to the house of Lydia.

Midnight in the prison, and release

“But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). After the earthquake the jailor asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30), and they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house” (Acts 16:31).

In the morning Paul said of them both, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans” (Acts 16:37). Then “they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed” (Acts 16:40).

Thessalonica and Beroea (Acts 17:1–15)

Some at Thessalonica consort with Paul and Silas; the brethren send Paul and Silas by night to Beroea, where Paul is sent on and Silas and Timothy abide.

Rejoining Paul at Corinth (Acts 17:14–15; Acts 18:1–5)

Those who brought Paul to Athens receive a commandment for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed; later they come down from Macedonia to Corinth.

Silvanus in the letters (2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1)

Paul names Silvanus and Timothy with him in the openings of two letters, and speaks of the gospel preached among the Corinthians by him, Silvanus and Timothy.

Silvanus in the letters

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea” (2 Corinthians 1:19).

“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians” (1 Thessalonians 1:1). Acts has Silas and Timothy with Paul in the same region (Acts 18:5), and Silvanus is usually read as Silas; the letters themselves do not say so.

Silvanus in 1 Peter (1 Peter 5:12)

A letter says “By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written unto you briefly” (1 Peter 5:12).

Paul (Acts 15:40; Acts 16:19–25)

Chosen by Paul as his companion; imprisoned with him at Philippi.

Judas called Barsabbas (Acts 15:22; Acts 15:32)

Chosen with Silas to go to Antioch; both exhorted the brethren as prophets.

Barnabas (Acts 15:22; Acts 15:39–40)

Sent to Antioch with Silas and Paul, then parted from Paul before Paul chose Silas.

John Mark (Acts 15:37–40)

Barnabas took Mark with him to Cyprus, and Paul chose Silas.

Timothy (Acts 17:14; Acts 18:5)

Abode with Silas at Beroea; they came down from Macedonia together.

Lydia (Acts 16:19–25; Acts 16:40)

After the prison, Paul and Silas entered the house of Lydia, saw the brethren and comforted them.

The jailor at Philippi (Acts 16:30–34)

Asked what he must do to be saved, was told to believe on the Lord Jesus, and was baptized with all his.

The magistrates at Philippi (Acts 16:22–23; Acts 16:35–39)

Commanded Paul and Silas to be beaten and cast into prison, then sent to let them go.

Major sections

• Acts 15:22–35
• Acts 15:36–41
• Acts 16:19–40
• Acts 17:1–15

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