# Silas

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1st century AD Christian saint and bishop

This article is about the first century figure from early Christianity. For other uses, see [Silas (disambiguation)](/source/Silas_(disambiguation)).

For other saints named Silvanus, see [Silvanus](/source/Silvanus_(disambiguation)).

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Saint Silas Detail from Michael Václav Halbax: Saint Paul and Silas in Prison by Michael Václav Halbax [cs], c. 1700 Apostle, Disciple, Missionary, Bishop, and Martyr Died 65–100 AD Macedonia Venerated in Roman Catholic Church Eastern Catholic Churches Eastern Orthodoxy Oriental Orthodox Anglicanism Lutheranism Feast January 26 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Episcopal Church) February 10 (Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod) July 13 (Roman Martyrology) July 30 (Eastern Orthodoxy) July 13 (Syriac, Malankara Calendars) Attributes Christian Martyrdom

**Silas** or **Silvanus** ([/ˈsaɪləs/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English); [Greek](/source/Koine_Greek): Σίλας/Σιλουανός; fl. 1st century AD) was a leading member of the [Early Christian](/source/Early_Christian) community, who according to the [New Testament](/source/New_Testament) accompanied [Paul the Apostle](/source/Paul_the_Apostle) on his [second missionary journey](/source/Second_missionary_journey).[1]

## Name and etymologies

*Silas* is traditionally assumed to be the same as the *Silvanus* mentioned in four epistles. Some translations, including the [New International Version](/source/New_International_Version), call him "Silas" in the epistles. Paul, Silas, and Timothy are listed as co-authors of the two New Testament letters to the Thessalonians, though [the authorship is disputed](/source/Authorship_of_the_Pauline_epistles). The [Second Epistle to the Corinthians](/source/Second_Epistle_to_the_Corinthians) mentions Silas as having preached with Paul and Timothy to the church in Corinth ([1:19](https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=2%20Corinthians%201:19&version=nrsv)), and the [First Epistle of Peter](/source/First_Epistle_of_Peter) describes Silas as a "faithful brother" ([5:12](https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=1%20Peter%205:12&version=nrsv)).

There is some disagreement over the original or "proper" form of his name: "Silas", "Silvanus", "Seila", and "Saul" seem to be treated at the time as equivalent versions of the same name in different languages, and it is not clear which is the original name of "Silas", and which is a translation or equivalent nickname, or whether some references are to different persons with equivalent names. He is consistently called "Silas" in the [Acts of the Apostles](/source/Acts_of_the_Apostles), but the [Roman name](/source/Latin) *[Silvanus](/source/Silvanus_(name))* (which means "of the [forest](/source/Forest)") is always used by Paul and in the First Epistle of Peter ([5:12](https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=1%20Peter%205:12&version=nrsv)); it may be that "Silvanus" is the Romanized version of the original "Silas",[2] or that "Silas" is the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) nickname for "Silvanus".[2] Silas is thus often identified with [Silvanus of the Seventy](/source/Silvanus_of_the_Seventy). Catholic theologian [Joseph Fitzmyer](/source/Joseph_Fitzmyer) further points out that *Silas* is the Greek rendition of the [Aramaic](/source/Aramaic_language) *Seila* (שְׁאִילָא), a version of the Hebrew *Saul* (שָׁאוּל‎), which is attested in [Palmyrene](/source/Palmyra) inscriptions.[3]

## Biblical narrative

Silas is first mentioned in [Acts 15:22](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+15:22&version=nkjv), where he and [Judas Barsabbas](/source/Judas_Barsabbas) (known often as 'Judas') were selected by the church elders to return with Paul and [Barnabas](/source/Saint_Barnabas) to Antioch following the Jerusalem Council. Silas and Judas are mentioned as being leaders among the brothers, prophets and encouraging speakers. Silas was selected by Paul to accompany him on his second mission after Paul and Barnabas split over an argument involving Mark's participation. It was during the second mission that he and Paul were imprisoned briefly in [Philippi](/source/Philippi), where an earthquake broke their chains and opened the prison door. Silas is thus sometimes depicted in art carrying broken chains.[4] [Acts 16:25-37](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2016:25-37&version=NIV).

According to [Acts 17–18](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17–18&version=nkjv), Silas and Timothy travelled with Paul from Philippi to [Thessalonica](/source/Thessalonica), where they were treated with hostility in the [synagogues](/source/Synagogue). The harassers followed the trio to [Berea](/source/Berea_(Bible)), threatening Paul's safety, and causing Paul to separate from Silas and Timothy. Paul travelled to [Athens](/source/Athens), and Silas and Timothy later joined him in [Corinth](/source/Ancient_Corinth).[5]

These events can be dated to around AD 50: the reference in [Acts 18:12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18:12&version=nkjv) to the Proconsul [Gallio](/source/Lucius_Iunius_Gallio_Annaeanus) helps ascertain this date (cf. [Gallio inscription](/source/Gallio_inscription)).[6] According to [Acts 18:6–7](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18:6–7&version=nkjv), Paul ceased to attend the synagogue in Corinth as a result of hostility; Silas is not mentioned thereafter in the Acts narrative.

He appears in the salutation of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and is referred to in 2 Corinthians 1:19. This is as expected, as we read of his involvement in Paul's mission when these cities were visited. He also appears in the conclusion of 1 Peter at 5:12, and is perhaps the amanuensis. Peter says he regards Silas as "a faithful brother".

## Mysticism

[Anne Catherine Emmerich](/source/Anne_Catherine_Emmerich) recounts in her visions that Silas' original name was Sela, and that he was one of the three "secret disciples," along with [Hermas](/source/The_Shepherd_of_Hermas#Authorship_and_date), who had later accompanied Jesus on his trip to the Three Kings' homeland near [Ur](/source/Ur), and thence to [Heliopolis](/source/Heliopolis_(ancient_Egypt)), and whose parents had come with the caravan of the [Three Kings](/source/Biblical_Magi).[7]

## Veneration

Saint Silas is celebrated in the [Calendar of Saints](/source/Calendar_of_saints_(Lutheran)) of the [Evangelical Lutheran Church in America](/source/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America) and that of the [Episcopal Church (United States)](/source/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)) with a [Lesser Feast](/source/Lesser_Feasts_and_Fasts)[8] on [January 26](/source/January_26) with [Timothy](/source/Saint_Timothy) and [Titus](/source/Saint_Titus), and separately on July 13 by the [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church) and February 10 by the [Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod](/source/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod). Saint Silas is also venerated by the Eastern Orthodox Church on July 30 along with the Apostles [Silvanus](/source/Silvanus_of_the_Seventy), [Crescens](/source/Crescens), [Epenetus](/source/Epenetus_of_Carthage), and [Andronicus](/source/Andronicus_of_Pannonia) and on January 4 where he is venerated with all the apostles.

## See also

- [Agabus](/source/Agabus)

- [Barnabas](/source/Barnabas)

- [Manahen](/source/Manahen)

- [Churches named after St. Silas](/source/St_Silas_Church_(disambiguation))

- *[Teachings of Silvanus](/source/Teachings_of_Silvanus)*: an apocryphal text from the [Nag Hammadi Library](/source/Nag_Hammadi_library)[9] that is attributed to Silas.[10]

## References

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Silas](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Silas)***.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Notes on 1 Peter"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151003214711/http://dailyprayer.us/lesson.php?day=1004). Archived from [the original](http://dailyprayer.us/lesson.php?day=1004) on 2015-10-03. Retrieved 2012-05-20.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Dunn2003_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Dunn2003_2-1) [Dunn, James D. G.](/source/James_Dunn_(theologian)), ed. (2003). [*The Cambridge Companion to St. Paul*](https://books.google.com/books?id=TNXPGiKx-mkC). [Cambridge](/source/Cambridge), UK: [Cambridge University Press](/source/Cambridge_University_Press). p. 21. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-521-78155-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-521-78155-8) – via Google Books.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Fitzmyer, Joseph J., ed. (1998). [*The Anchor Bible: The Acts of the Apostles*](https://archive.org/details/actsofapostlesan00fitz/page/564). New York: Doubleday. p. [564](https://archive.org/details/actsofapostlesan00fitz/page/564). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-385-49020-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-385-49020-8) – via Internet Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Holy Disciples from the Seventy: Silas, Sylvanus (Siluanos), Crescentius, Epenetos and Andronikos"](http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/July/30-01.htm). *www.holytrinityorthodox.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20101217004159/http://holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/July/30-01.htm) from the original on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 2012-05-29.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Acts 18:5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18:5&version=nkjv)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Cross, F. L.](/source/F._L._Cross); [Livingstone, E. A.](/source/Elizabeth_Livingstone), eds. (2005). [*The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church*](https://books.google.com/books?id=fUqcAQAAQBAJ) (3rd Revised ed.). [Oxford](/source/Oxford): [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press). pp. 1243–5. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-280290-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-280290-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Emmerich_7-0)** Emmerich, Anne Catherine (1914). "vol. 3". In Brentano, Clement; Schmöger, Carl E. (eds.). [*The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations*](https://tandfspi.org/ACE_vol_03/ACE_3_0491_out.html#ACE_3_p0492). Rockford, IL: Tan. p. 492. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230213084424/https://tandfspi.org/ACE_vol_03/ACE_3_0491_out.html#ACE_3_p0492) from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-diobeth-holywomenholymen_8-0)** ["Holy Women, Holy Men Celebrating the Saints"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200210133827/https://diobeth.typepad.com/files/holy-women-holy-men.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](https://diobeth.typepad.com/files/holy-women-holy-men.pdf) (PDF) on 2020-02-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Nag Hammadi Library"](http://gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html). *gnosis.org*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131230212715/http://gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html) from the original on 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2019-03-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Silvanus/Silas](http://gnosis.org/naghamm/silvanus.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190327150557/http://gnosis.org/naghamm/silvanus.html) 2019-03-27 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Silas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.