Silas

Life and work

Silas first appears as one of two 'leaders among the believers' in the Jerusalem church — alongside Judas called Barsabbas — chosen to carry the Jerusalem council's decision about Gentile converts to the church in Antioch, where he is described as a prophet who encouraged and strengthened the believers there (Acts 15:22, 15:32).

When Paul and Barnabas had their sharp falling-out over whether to bring John Mark on a second journey, Paul chose Silas as his new companion instead, and the two set out together through Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:40-41). In Philippi, the pair were stripped, severely flogged, and thrown in prison after Paul cast a spirit out of a fortune-telling slave girl — and famously kept praying and singing hymns at midnight until an earthquake shook the prison doors open (Acts 16:19-26).

Silas continued with Paul through Thessalonica and Berea, where opposition forced them to move on repeatedly (Acts 17:1-15). He's very likely the same person Paul calls 'Silvanus' — the Latinized form of the name — who is listed as a co-sender of both letters to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:1) and later helped Peter write his first letter: 'With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly' (1 Peter 5:12).

Extra-biblical evidence

No contemporary extra-biblical source records Silas; everything known about him comes from Acts and the New Testament letters.

Scripture references

• Acts 15:22 — Introduced as a leader in the Jerusalem church
• Acts 15:40 — Chosen by Paul after the split with Barnabas
• Acts 16:19-25 — Imprisoned and beaten with Paul in Philippi
• 1 Peter 5:12 — Helps Peter write his first letter, as 'Silas'

Further reading

• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Saint Silas

Reflect

Silas sang with Paul at midnight in the Philippian jail — who is the companion who steadies you in hard places?