Silas

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Contracted form of Silvanus. A chief (Greek "leading") man of the church at Jerusalem, a prophet ( Acts 15:22-32). His name from the Latin Sylva , "a wood," implies he was a Hellenistic Jew. He was ( Acts 16:37) a Roman citizen. Delegated by the Jerusalem council to accompany Paul and Barnabas with the decree for Antioch. Then he returned to Jerusalem ( Acts 15:33), for ( Acts 15:34) "notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still" is an interpolation to account for  Acts 15:40 (The Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, And Alexandrinus Manuscripts Omit  Acts 15:34 ) . He doubtless revisited Antioch soon after his return to Jerusalem, so he was there chosen by Paul to be companion of his second missionary tour ( Acts 15:40-17; Acts 15:14). He stayed behind with Timothy at Berea when Paul went on to Athens, but was charged to join him there with all speed ( Acts 17:15).

Silas, when he and Timothy (Apparently Together) came from Macedonia, found Paul at Corinth ( Acts 18:5). Whether in the meantime he had joined Paul at Athens, and been sent thence to Thessalonica with Timothy ( 1 Thessalonians 3:2), and joined him again at Corinth, is not recorded. Paul notices his preaching at Corinth and associates his name with his own in the heading of the two epistles to the Thessalonians ( 2 Corinthians 1:19;  1 Thessalonians 1:1;  2 Thessalonians 1:1). Silas was the bearer of the first epistle of Peter ( 1 Peter 5:12) who designates him "a faithful brother unto you as I suppose." The uncertainty is not as to Silas's faithfulness to them (Which Is Strongly Marked By The Article In The Sinaiticus And Alexandrinus Manuscripts) , but as to whether he or some other would prove to be the bearer of the epistle, addressed as it was to five provinces, all of which Silas might not reach.

"By Silas that faithful brother, as I expect, I have written to you." Silas probably stood in a close relation to the churches of Asia, having taken the oversight after Paul's departure, and afterward went to Peter. Silas was a suitable messenger by whom to confirm Paul's doctrine of "the true grace of God" in the stone churches ( 2 Peter 3:16). After Paul's last journey to Jerusalem Silas no more appears as his companion. His connection with Peter began after that. "Exhorting and confirming the brethren" seems to have been Silas' forte ( Acts 15:32). In the public witness for Christ confirmed by the Pythoness at Philippi, and in the scourging for His name's sake, and the prayers and praises sung in the prison to God, and in the jailer's conversion, Silas bore a part second only to Paul ( Acts 16:19;  Acts 16:25;  Acts 16:29). So also at Thessalonica and Berea ( Acts 17:4;  Acts 17:10).

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Silas (Acts) and SILVANUS (Epistles). There can be little doubt that the Silvanus of the Pauline Epistles (  2 Corinthians 1:19 ,   1 Thessalonians 1:1 ,   2 Thessalonians 1:1 ) is the same as the Silas of Acts.

Probably Silas is an abbreviation, like Lucas (Luke), Hermas, Amplias, Epaphras, Nymphas . etc. In Acts we find many such familiar names (cf. esp. Priscilla in Acts = Prisca   Romans 16:3 RV [Note: Revised Version.] , Sopater   Acts 20:4 = Sosipater   Romans 16:21 ). We might indeed have expected ‘Silvas’ not ‘Silas,’ but these abbreviations are very irregular. It has been suggested that Silas was the real name, and of Semitic origin, while Silvanus was adopted for a Roman name as being similar in sound; but then we should have expected for the latter ‘Silanus,’ not Silvanus.

Silas was a Christian prophet ( Acts 15:32 ), one of the ‘chief men among the brethren’ (therefore doubtless of Jewish birth), who with ‘Judas called Barsabbas’ was sent as a delegate from the Apostolic Council with Paul and Barnabas, to convey the decision of the Council (  Acts 15:22 ff.). He was also probably a Roman citizen (  Acts 16:37 ), though this inference is denied by some. It is uncertain if he returned from Antioch to Jerusalem (  Acts 15:34 is of doubtful authenticity), but in any case he was soon after chosen by Paul to go with him on the Second Journey, taking Barnabas’ place, while Timothy afterwards took John Mark’s. For this work Silas’ double qualification as a leading Jewish Christian and a Roman citizen would eminently fit him. He accompanied Paul through S. Galatia to Troas, Philippi (where he was imprisoned), Thessalonica, and BerÅ“a. When Paul went to Athens, Silas and Timothy were left behind, perhaps to bring the latest news from Thessalonica (in case it was possible for the Apostle to return thither), with injunctions to follow at once; and this they probably did. But they seem to have been sent back on a mission to Macedonia (  1 Thessalonians 3:1 : Paul was ‘left behind at Athens alone ’), Timothy to Thessalonica, Silas perhaps to Philippi; they rejoined Paul at Corinth, and are associated with him in the letters, probably written thence, to the Thessalonians. Here Silas disappears from the Pauline history. But there is no reason for suspecting a defection like that of Mark; the cordial reference to his former preaching in   2 Corinthians 1:19 (written on the Third Journey) contradicts this. We afterwards find him attending on St. Peter, acting as bearer and perhaps scribe of his First Epistle (  1 Peter 5:12 ); for there is no reason to suppose that the Petrine Mark and Silvanus were other than those connected with St. Paul. Whether this attendance was before or after the death of St. Paul depends on the date we give to 1Peter; see a full Excursus in Dr. Bigg’s edition of that Epistle.

A. J. Maclean.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Si'las. ( contracted form of Silvanus , Woody). An eminent member of the early Christian Church, described, under that name, in the Acts, but as Silvanus, in St. Paul's Epistles. He first appears as one of the leaders of the church at Jerusalem,  Acts 15:22, holding the office of an inspired teacher.  Acts 15:32. His name, derived from the Latin, silva , "Wood", betokens him a Hellenistic Jew, and he appears to have been a Roman citizen.  Acts 16:37. He was appointed as a delegate to accompany Paul and Barnabas, on their return to Antioch with the decree of the Council of Jerusalem.  Acts 15:22;  Acts 15:32.

Having accomplished this mission, he returned to Jerusalem.  Acts 15:33. He must, however, have immediately revisited Antioch, for we find him selected by St. Paul as the companion, of his second missionary journey.  Acts 15:40;  Acts 17:10. At Berea, he was left behind with Timothy, while St. Paul proceeded to Athens,  Acts 17:14, and we hear nothing more of his movements, until he rejoined the apostle at Corinth.  Acts 18:5. His presence at Corinth is several times noticed.  2 Corinthians 1:19;  1 Thessalonians 1:1;  2 Thessalonians 1:1. Whether he was the Silvanus who conveyed St. Peter's first Epistle to Asia Minor,  1 Peter 5:12, is doubtful; the probabilities are in favor of the identity. A tradition of very slight authority represents Silas to have become bishop of Corinth.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Among the more open-minded Jewish Christians in the Jerusalem church was Silas, sometimes called Silvanus. Besides being Jewish, he had the privileged status of Roman citizenship ( Acts 15:22;  Acts 16:37). He was present at the conference in Jerusalem that discussed the problems created by Jewish legalists among the Gentile churches. When the Jerusalem leaders decided to send representatives to reassure the Gentile churches, Silas was one of the two they chose ( Acts 15:22-27). He was a preacher whose messages strengthened the hearers ( Acts 15:32).

Silas must have impressed Paul with his conduct at the conference in Jerusalem. As a result Paul chose him as his fellow worker for a missionary tour to the recently planted Gentile churches and beyond ( Acts 15:40). He was with Paul through dangerous experiences in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Corinth ( Acts 16:19-40;  Acts 17:1-15;  Acts 18:5-11), and Paul often spoke warmly of him as his fellow worker ( 2 Corinthians 1:19;  1 Thessalonians 1:1;  2 Thessalonians 1:1).

After his association with Paul, Silas worked closely with Peter. He visited Rome with Peter, and played a part in the writing of 1 Peter, a letter that Peter sent to the churches of northern Asia Minor ( 1 Peter 1:1;  1 Peter 5:12-13; see Peter, Letters Of )

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

 Acts 23:3 , and  2 Corinthians 1:19 , the former name being a contraction of the latter; one of the chief men among the first disciples at Jerusalem,  Acts 15:22 , and supposed by some to have been of the number of the seventy. On occasion of a dispute at Antioch, as to the observance of legal ceremonies, Paul and Barnabas were chosen to go to Jerusalem, to advise with the apostles; and they returned with Judas and Silas.

Silas joined himself to Paul; and after Paul and Barnabas had separated,  Acts 15:37-41 , A. D. 51, he accompanied Paul to visit the churches of Syria and Cilicia, and the towns and provinces of Lycaonia, Phrygia, Galatia, and Macedonia. He was imprisoned with him at Philippi, joined him at Corinth after a brief separation, bringing, it is supposed, the donation referred to in  2 Corinthians 11:9   Philippians 4:10,15 , and probably went with him to Jerusalem,  Acts 16:19,25   17:4,10,14   18:5   1 Thessalonians 1:1   2 Thessalonians 1:1 . He appears always as a "faithful brother," well known and praised by all the churches,  2 Corinthians 1:19   1 Peter 5:12 .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Silas ( Sî'Las ),  Acts 15:40, contracted from Silvanus ( Sil-Vâ'Nus ), Woody,  2 Corinthians 1:19, is called one of the chief of the brethren,  Acts 15:22, and a faithful brother.  1 Peter 5:12. He is supposed to have been a native of Antioch, and a member of the Christian church there.  Acts 15:37-41. He was the associate of Paul in several of his missionary tours, and his fellow-prisoner at Philippi.  Acts 15:40;  Acts 16:25;  Acts 16:29;  Acts 17:4;  Acts 17:10;  Acts 17:15. He is called a prophet.  Acts 15:32.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

or SYLVANUS, was, according to St. Luke,  Acts 15:22 , one of the "chief men among the brethren," which makes it probable, that he was of the number of the seventy disciples. When a dispute was raised at Antioch about the observation of the legal ceremonies, they chose Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas, to go to Jerusalem, to advise with the Apostles concerning this question. He is thought to be the same Silas who is mentioned by the name of Sylvanus, in the title of the two epistles of St. Paul to the Thessalonians. St. Peter sent his first epistle by him from Rome, wherein he styles him "a faithful brother." Silas joined himself to St. Paul; and after Saul and Barnabas had parted, on account of John Mark,  Acts 15:37-41 , Silas followed St. Paul, and went with him to visit the churches of Syria and Cilicia.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A 'chief man' among the brethren and a prophet. He was sent to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, after the council of the church at Jerusalem concerning Gentiles keeping the law. He accompanied Paul in his second missionary journey, and was imprisoned with him at Philippi.  Acts 15:22-40;  Acts 16:19-25,29;  Acts 17:4-15;  Acts 18:5 . The name is an abbreviation of SILVANUS, q.v.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Acts 15:22 Acts 16:19-24 2 Corinthians 1:19 1 Thessalonians 1:1 2 1:1 1 Peter 5:12

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sı̄´las ( Σίλας , Sı́las , probably contraction for Σιλουανός , Silouanós  ; the Hebrew equivalents suggested are שׁליש , shālı̄sh , "Tertius," or שׁלח , shelaḥ (  Genesis 10:24 ) (Knowling), or שׁאוּל , shā'ūl = "asked" (Zahn)): The Silas of Acts is generally identified with the Silvanus of the Epistles. His identification with Titus has also been suggested, based on   2 Corinthians 1:19;  2 Corinthians 8:23 , but this is very improbable (compare Knowling, Expositor's Greek Test ., II, 326). Silas, who was probably a Roman citizen (compare  Acts 16:37 ), accompanied Paul during the greater part of his 2nd missionary journey (Acts 15 through 18). At the meeting of the Christian community under James at Jerusalem, which decided that circumcision should not be obligatory in the case of Gentile believers, Silas and Judas Barsabas were appointed along with Paul and Barnabas to convey to the churches in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia the epistle informing them of this decision. As "leading men among the brethren" at Jerusalem, and therefore more officially representative of the Jerusalem church than Paul and Barnabas, Silas and Judas were further commissioned to confirm the contents of the letter by "word of mouth." On arrival at Antioch, the epistle was delivered, and Judas and Silas, "being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them." Their mission being thus completed, the four were "dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth" (Revised Version), or "unto the apostles" (the King James Version) ( Acts 15:22-33 ).

Different readings now render the immediate movements of Silas somewhat obscure;  Acts 15:33 would imply that he returned to Jerusalem. But some texts proceed in   Acts 15:34 , "Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still," and others add "and Judas alone proceeded." Of this, the first half is accepted by the King James Version. The principal texts however reject the whole verse and are followed in this by the Revised Version (British and American). It is held by some that he remained in Antioch till chosen by Paul ( Acts 15:40 ). Others maintain that he returned to Jerusalem where John Mark then was (compare  Acts 13:13 ); and that either during the interval of "some days" ( Acts 15:36 ), when the events described in  Galatians 2:11 ff took place (Wendt), he returned to Antioch along with Peter, or that he and John Mark were summoned thither by Paul and Barnabas, subsequent to their dispute regarding Mark. (For fuller discussion, see Knowling, Expositor's Greek Test ., II, 330, 332-35.)

Upon Barnabas' separation from Paul, Silas was chosen by Paul in his place, and the two missionaries, "after being commended by the brethren (at Antioch) to the grace of the Lord," proceeded on their journey ( Acts 15:33 margin through 40). Passing through Syria, Cilicia, Galatia, Phrygia and Mysia, where they delivered the decree of the Jerusalem council and strengthened the churches, and were joined by Timothy, they eventually reached Troas (Acts 15:41 through 16:8). Indications are given that at this city Luke also became one of their party (compare also the apocryphal "Acts of Paul," where this is definitely stated; Budge, Contendings of the Apostles , II, 544).

Upon the call of the Macedonian, the missionary band set sail for Greece, and after touching at Samothrace, they landed at Neapolis ( Acts 16:9-11 ). At Philippi, Lydia, a seller of purple, was converted, and with her they made their abode; but the exorcism of an evil spirit from a sorceress brought upon Silas and Paul the enmity of her masters, whose source of gain was thus destroyed. On being charged before the magistrates with causing a breach of the peace and preaching false doctrine, their garments were rent off them and they were scourged and imprisoned. In no way dismayed, they prayed and sang hymns to God, and an earthquake in the middle of the night secured them a miraculous release. The magistrates, on learning that the two prisoners whom they had so maltreated were Roman citizens, came in person and besought them to depart out of the city (Acts 16:12-39). After a short visit to the house of Lydia, where they held an interview with the brethren, they departed for Thessalonica, leaving Luke behind (compare Knowling, op. cit., 354-55). There they made many converts, especially among the Greeks, but upon the house of Jason, their host, being attacked by hostile Jews, they were compelled to escape by night to Berea (Acts 16:40 through 17:10). There they received a better hearing from the Jews, but the enmity of the Thessalonian Jews still pursued them, and Paul was conducted for safety to Athens, Silas and Timothy being left behind. On his arrival, he dispatched an urgent message back to Bercea for Silas and Timothy to rejoin him at that city ( Acts 17:11-15 ). The narrative of Acts implies, however, that Paul had left Athens and had reached Corinth before he was overtaken by his two followers ( Acts 18:5 ). Knowling (op. cit., 363-64) suggests that they may have actually met at Athens, and that Timothy was then sent to Thessalonica (compare  1 Thessalonians 3:1 ,  1 Thessalonians 3:2 ), and Silas to Philippi (compare  Philippians 4:15 ), and that the three came together again at Corinth. The arrival of Silas and Timothy at that city is probably referred to in  2 Corinthians 11:9 . It is implied in  Acts 18:18 that Silas did not leave Corinth at the same time as Paul, but no further definite reference is made to him in the narrative of the 2nd missionary journey.

Assuming his identity with Silvanus, he is mentioned along with Paul and Timothy in  2 Corinthians 1:19 as having preached Christ among the Corinthians (compare   Acts 18:5 ). In  1 Thessalonians 1:1 , and  2 Thessalonians 1:1 , the same three send greetings to the church at Thessalonica (compare  Acts 17:1-9 ). In  1 Peter 5:12 he is mentioned as a "faithful brother" and the bearer of that letter to the churches of the Dispersion (compare on this last Knowling, op. cit., 331-32). The theory which assigns He to the authorship of Silas is untenable.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( Σίλας ), an eminent member of the early Christian Church, described under that name in the Acts, but probably as Silvanus (q.v.) in Paul's epistles, B.C. 47-55. The Alexandrine writers adopted somewhat bold abbreviations of proper names, such as Zenas for Zenodorus, Apollos for Apollonius, Hermas for Hermodorus. The method by which they arrived at these forms is not very apparent. Silas first appears as one of the leaders ( Ἡγούμενοι , ) of the Church at Jerusalem, ( Acts 15:22), holding the office of an inspired teacher ( Προφήτης ,  Acts 15:32). His name, derived from the Latin Silva, "wood," betokens him a Hellenistic Jew, and he appears to have been a Roman citizen ( Acts 16:37). He was appointed as a delegate to accompany Paul and Barnabas on their return to Antioch with the decree of the Council of Jerusalem ( Romans 15:22;  Romans 15:32). Having accomplished this mission, he returned to Jerusalem ( Romans 15:33; the following verse, Ἔδοξε Δὲ Τῷ Σίλᾷ Ἐπιμεῖναι Αὐτοῦ , is perhaps an interpolation introduced to harmonize the passage with  Acts 15:40). He, must, however, have immediately revisited Antioch, for we find him selected by Paul as the companion of his second missionary journey ( Acts 15:40;). At Beroea he was left behind with Timothy while Paul, proceeded to Athens ( Acts 17:14), and we hear nothing more of his movements until he rejoined the apostle:at Corinth ( Acts 18:5). Whether he had followed Paul to Athens in obedience to the injunction to do so ( Acts 17:15), and had been sent thence with Timothy to Thessalonica ( 1 Thessalonians 3:2), or whether his movements, were wholly independent of Timothy's, is uncertain (Conybeare and Howson, Life Of St. Paul, 1, 458, note). His presence at Corinth is several times noticed ( 2 Corinthians 1:19;  1 Thessalonians 1:1;  2 Thessalonians 1:1). He probably returned to Jerusalem with Paul, and from that time the connection between them appears to have terminated. Whether he was the Silvanus who conveyed Peter's first epistle to Asia Minor ( 1 Peter 5:12) is doubtful; the probabilities are in favor of the identity, the question is chiefly interesting as bearing upon the Pauline character of Peter's epistles (De, Wette. Einleit. § 4). We have to notice, for the purpose of rejecting, the theories which identify Silas with Tertius ( Romans 16:22) through a Hebrew explanation of the name ( שָׁלְישׁ ), and again with Luke, or at all events with the author of the Acts (Alford, Prolegom. In  Acts 1:1). The traditions (ap. Dorothaeum et Hippolytum) regard Silas and Silvanus as different persons, making the former bishop of Corinth, and the latter bishop of Thessalonica (see Fabricins, Lux Evang. p. 117; Cellarius, Diss. de Sila Viro Apostol. Jen. 1773). (See Paul).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Silvanus

Si´las, a contraction of Silvanus, a distinguished Christian teacher in the church at Jerusalem, who, with Barnabas, was associated by that church with Paul , and accompanied him in his second journey through Asia Minor to Macedonia . He remained behind at Berea for a short time, when Paul was obliged to flee from that place . They met again at Corinth (; comp. ), where Silas was active in the work of an evangelist . He is invariably called Silvanus in the Epistles, but the contraction Silas is always used in the Acts. Whether this Silvanus is the same person who was the bearer of St. Peter's epistle to the churches in Asia Minor , cannot be ascertained. The traditions regard Silas and Silvanus as different persons, making the former bishop of Corinth, and the latter bishop of Thessalonica.