Silas

Family: early church · Role: prophet and missionary · First appears: Acts 15

Silas is a prophet and missionary of the early church. In Acts 15, the church sends him with Judas Barsabas, Paul, and Barnabas to Antioch to deliver the council’s letter, where the brethren rejoice at its consolation. After Judas Barsabas returns to the apostles, Silas remains in Antioch; then Paul chooses him and departs, while Barnabas takes John Mark to Cyprus.

In Acts 16, Silas and Paul are called to preach in Macedonia. At Philippi, they are beaten and imprisoned, but at midnight they pray and sing praises to God; an earthquake opens the prison doors and loosens everyone’s bonds, and by day the magistrates release them. Lydia urges them to come and abide in her house, saying, “And she constrained us.”

In Acts 17, some Thessalonians believe Paul’s teaching and join him and Silas. The brethren send them by night to Berea, where Silas remains with Timothy after Paul goes onward; later, Paul commands Silas and Timothy to come to him quickly in Athens. At Thessalonica, Jason receives them amid accusations that they act against Caesar’s decrees by proclaiming another king, Jesus.