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Who was Silas in the Bible?

Lived in the New Testament era

Silas, also known as Silvanus, was a significant figure in the early Christian church, particularly in his role as a companion of the apostle Paul. Silas appears in 11 verses of the Bible.

What does the Bible say about Silas?

Silas, also known as Silvanus, was a significant figure in the early Christian church, particularly in his role as a companion of the apostle Paul. He is first mentioned in Act.15.22 as a prominent member of the Jerusalem church, along with Judas Barsabbas, chosen to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to deliver the decision of the Jerusalem Council regarding Gentile believers. Described as a prophet (Act.15.32), Silas played a vital role in encouraging and strengthening the churches. After parting ways with Barnabas, Paul chose Silas as his new companion for his second missionary journey (Act.15.40). Together, they traveled through Syria, Cilicia, and various cities in Asia Minor, preaching the gospel and establishing churches. In Philippi, Paul and Silas were imprisoned for their ministry but were miraculously freed by an earthquake (Act.16.19-40). They continued their journey, ministering in Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth (Act.17.1-18:5). Silas remained with Paul in Corinth for an extended period, helping him establish the church there. In addition to his missionary work, Silas is also mentioned as a co-author of some of Paul's epistles, specifically 1 and 2 Thessalonians (1Th.1.1; 2Th.1.1). He is also referred to as Silvanus in 2Co.1.19 and 1Pe.5.12, where he is described as a faithful brother. Silas' dedication to the gospel, his leadership in the early church, and his partnership with Paul make him an important figure in the spread of Christianity during the first century.

Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.

Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.

Where does Silas appear in the Bible?

Silas is referenced in 11 verses. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

Acts 11

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Silas.

PaulTimothyGraceHopeAthensMacedonia

Common questions

How many times does the Bible mention Silas?

Silas appears in 11 verses, all of them in Acts.

Which books of the Bible mention Silas?

Just one: Acts.

Where can I read every verse about Silas?

This page lists 11 of them. Protos carries all 11, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.

Read it in context

Read Acts with Silas explained on the verse.

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