Silas
SILAS
Mal 23:3, and SILVANUS, 2Co 1:19, the former name being a contraction of the latter; one of the chief men among the first disciples at Jerusalem, Mal 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, Mal 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 2Co 11:9 Phi 4:10,15, and probably went with him to Jerusalem, Mal 16:19,25 17:4,10,14 18:5 1Th 1:1 2Th 1:1 . He appears always as a “faithful brother,” well known and praised by all the churches, 2Co 1:19 1Pe 5:12 .
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Silas
(), 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 (, ) of the Church at Jerusalem, (Act 15:22), holding the office of an inspired teacher (, Act 15:32). His name, derived from the Latin silva, wood, betokens him a Hellenistic Jew, and he appears to have been a Roman citizen (Act 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 (Rom 15:22; Rom 15:32). Having accomplished this mission, he returned to Jerusalem (Rom 15:33; the following verse, , is perhaps an interpolation introduced to harmonize the passage with Act 15:40). He, must, however, have immediately revisited Antioch, for we find him selected by Paul as the companion of his second missionary journey (Act 15:40;). At Beroea he was left behind with Timothy while Paul, proceeded to Athens (Act 17:14), and we hear nothing more of his movements until he rejoined the apostle:at Corinth (Act 18:5). Whether he had followed Paul to Athens in obedience to the injunction to do so (Act 17:15), and had been sent thence with Timothy to Thessalonica (1Th 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 (2Co 1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 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 (1Pe 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 (Rom 16:22) through a Hebrew explanation of the name (), and again with Luke, or at all events with the author of the Acts (Alford, Prolegom. in Act 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.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Silas
wood, a prominent member of the church at Jerusalem; also called Silvanus. He and Judas, surnamed Barsabas, were chosen by the church there to accompany Paul and Barnabas on their return to Antioch from the council of the apostles and elders (Acts 15:22), as bearers of the decree adopted by the council. He assisted Paul there in his evangelistic labours, and was also chosen by him to be his companion on his second missionary tour (Acts 16:19-24). He is referred to in the epistles under the name of Silvanus (2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:12). There is no record of the time or place of his death.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Silas
Contracted form of SILVANUS. A chief (Greek “leading”) man of the church at Jerusalem, a prophet (Act 15:22-32). His name from the Latin sylva, “a wood,” implies he was a Hellenistic Jew. He was (Act 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 (Act 15:33), for (Act 15:34) “notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still” is an interpolation to account for Act 15:40 (the Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, and Alexandrinus manuscripts omit Act 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 (Act 15:40-17;Act 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 (Act 17:15).
Silas, when he and Timothy (apparently together) came from Macedonia, found Paul at Corinth (Act 18:5). Whether in the meantime he had joined Paul at Athens, and been sent thence to Thessalonica with Timothy (1Th 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 (2Co 1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1). Silas was the bearer of the first epistle of Peter (1Pe 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 (2Pe 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 (Act 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 (Act 16:19; Act 16:25; Act 16:29). So also at Thessalonica and Berea (Act 17:4; Act 17:10).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
SILAS
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 (Act 15:22; Act 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 (Act 15:22-27). He was a preacher whose messages strengthened the hearers (Act 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 (Act 15:40). He was with Paul through dangerous experiences in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Corinth (Act 16:19-40; Act 17:1-15; Act 18:5-11), and Paul often spoke warmly of him as his fellow worker (2Co 1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 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 (1Pe 1:1; 1Pe 5:12-13; see PETER, LETTERS OF).
Fuente: Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
Silas
SILAS (Acts) and SILVANUS (Epistles).There can be little doubt that the Silvanus of the Pauline Epistles (2Co 1:19, 1Th 1:1, 2Th 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 Rom 16:3 RV [Note: Revised Version.] , Sopater Act 20:4 = Sosipater Rom 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 (Act 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 (Act 15:22 ff.). He was also probably a Roman citizen (Act 16:37), though this inference is denied by some. It is uncertain if he returned from Antioch to Jerusalem (Act 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 Marks. 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 Bera. 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 (1Th 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 2Co 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 (1Pe 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. Biggs edition of that Epistle.
A. J. Maclean.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Silas
slas (, Slas, probably contraction for , Silouanos; the Hebrew equivalents suggested are , shalsh, Tertius, or , shelah (Gen 10:24) (Knowling), or , sha’ul = 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 2Co 1:19; 2Co 8:23, but this is very improbable (compare Knowling, Expositor’s Greek Test., II, 326). Silas, who was probably a Roman citizen (compare Act 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) (Act 15:22-33).
Different readings now render the immediate movements of Silas somewhat obscure; Act 15:33 would imply that he returned to Jerusalem. But some texts proceed in Act 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 (Act 15:40). Others maintain that he returned to Jerusalem where John Mark then was (compare Act 13:13); and that either during the interval of some days (Act 15:36), when the events described in Gal 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 (Act 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 (Act 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 (Act 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 (Act 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 1Th 3:1, 1Th 3:2), and Silas to Philippi (compare Phi 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 2Co 11:9. It is implied in Act 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 2Co 1:19 as having preached Christ among the Corinthians (compare Act 18:5). In 1Th 1:1, and 2Th 1:1, the same three send greetings to the church at Thessalonica (compare Act 17:1-9). In 1Pe 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.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Silas
Silvanus
Silas, a contraction of Silvanus, a distinguished Christian teacher in the church at Jerusalem, who, with Barnabas, was associated by that church with Paul (Act 15:22; Act 15:32), and accompanied him in his second journey through Asia Minor to Macedonia (Act 15:40; Act 16:19; Act 16:25; Act 17:4). He remained behind at Berea for a short time, when Paul was obliged to flee from that place (Act 17:10; Act 17:14). They met again at Corinth (Act 18:5; comp. 1Th 1:1), where Silas was active in the work of an evangelist (2Co 1:19). 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 (1Pe 5:12), cannot be ascertained. The traditions regard Silas and Silvanus as different persons, making the former bishop of Corinth, and the latter bishop of Thessalonica.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Silas
[Si’las]
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. Act 15:22-40; Act 16:19-25; Act 16:29; Act 17:4-15; Act 18:5. The name is an abbreviation of SILVANUS, q.v.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Silas
G4609
Called also Silvanus.
Sent to Paul, in Antioch, from Jerusalem
Act 15:22-34
Becomes Paul’s companion
Act 15:40-41; 2Co 1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1
Imprisoned with Paul in Philippi
Act 16:19-40
Driven, with Paul, from Thessalonica
Act 17:4-10
Left by Paul at Berea
Act 17:14
Rejoins Paul at Corinth
Act 17:15; Act 18:5
Carries Peter’s epistle to Asia Minor
1Pe 5:12
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Silas
Silas (s’las), Act 15:40, contracted from Silvanus (sil-v’nus), woody, 2Co 1:19, is called one of the chief of the brethren, Act 15:22, and a faithful brother. 1Pe 5:12. He is supposed to have been a native of Antioch, and a member of the Christian church there. Act 15:37-41. He was the associate of Paul in several of his missionary tours, and his fellow-prisoner at Philippi. Act 15:40; Act 16:25; Act 16:29; Act 17:4; Act 17:10; Act 17:15. He is called a prophet. Act 15:32.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Silas
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, Act 15:22, holding the office of an inspired teacher. Act 15:32. His name, derived from the Latin, silva, “wood”, betokens him a Hellenistic Jew, and he appears to have been a Roman citizen. Act 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. Act 15:22; Act 15:32.
Having accomplished this mission, he returned to Jerusalem. Act 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. Act 15:40; Act 17:10. At Berea, he was left behind with Timothy, while St. Paul proceeded to Athens, Act 17:14, and we hear nothing more of his movements, until he rejoined the apostle at Corinth. Act 18:5. His presence at Corinth is several times noticed. 2Co 1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1. Whether he was the Silvanus who conveyed St. Peter’s first Epistle to Asia Minor, 1Pe 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.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Silas
or SYLVANUS, was, according to St. Luke, Act 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, Act 15:37-41, Silas followed St. Paul, and went with him to visit the churches of Syria and Cilicia.