Silas
Paul's coworker
Silas (also called Silvanus) was a leading brother in the church at Jerusalem and a Roman citizen. He was chosen to accompany Paul on the second missionary journey after Paul and Barnabas parted ways. Together with Paul, he experienced imprisonment in Philippi, where an earthquake occurred and the jailer was converted.
Key events
Sent from Jerusalem
Silas was chosen to bring the decision of the apostles' council to Antioch.
22Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to choose men from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leading men among the brothers.
Τότε ἔδοξε τοῖς ἀποστόλοις καὶ τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις σὺν ὅλῃ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐκλεξαμένους ἄνδρας ἐξ αὐτῶν πέμψαι εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν σὺν ⸀τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ Βαρναβᾷ, Ἰούδαν τὸν ⸀καλούμενον Βαρσαββᾶν καὶ Σιλᾶν, ἄνδρας ἡγουμένους ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς,
27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things by word of mouth.
ἀπεστάλκαμεν οὖν Ἰούδαν καὶ Σιλᾶν, καὶ αὐτοὺς διὰ λόγου ἀπαγγέλλοντας τὰ αὐτά.
32Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
Ἰούδας τε καὶ Σιλᾶς, καὶ αὐτοὶ προφῆται ὄντες, διὰ λόγου πολλοῦ παρεκάλεσαν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ ἐπεστήριξαν·
33After spending some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.
ποιήσαντες δὲ χρόνον ἀπελύθησαν μετʼ εἰρήνης ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν πρὸς τοὺς ⸂ἀποστείλαντας αὐτούς⸃.
34But Silas decided to remain there.
ἔδοξε δὲ τῷ Σίλᾳ ἐπιμεῖναι αὐτοῦ
Paul's companion
Paul chose Silas as his coworker for his second missionary journey.
40while Paul chose Silas and set out, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
Παῦλος δὲ ἐπιλεξάμενος Σιλᾶν ἐξῆλθεν παραδοθεὶς τῇ χάριτι τοῦ ⸀κυρίου ὑπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν,
41He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
διήρχετο δὲ τὴν Συρίαν καὶ ⸀τὴν Κιλικίαν ἐπιστηρίζων τὰς ἐκκλησίας.
19When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.
Ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ κύριοι αὐτῆς ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτῶν ἐπιλαβόμενοι τὸν Παῦλον καὶ τὸν Σιλᾶν εἵλκυσαν εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας,
Imprisoned in Philippi
Paul and Silas were thrown into prison, but they sang hymns, and an earthquake opened the doors.
23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was ordered to guard them securely.
πολλάς ⸀τε ἐπιθέντες αὐτοῖς πληγὰς ἔβαλον εἰς φυλακήν, παραγγείλαντες τῷ δεσμοφύλακι ἀσφαλῶς τηρεῖν αὐτούς·
24On receiving these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
ὃς παραγγελίαν τοιαύτην ⸀λαβὼν ἔβαλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν ἐσωτέραν φυλακὴν καὶ τοὺς πόδας ⸂ἠσφαλίσατο αὐτῶν⸃ εἰς τὸ ξύλον.
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Κατὰ δὲ τὸ μεσονύκτιον Παῦλος καὶ Σιλᾶς προσευχόμενοι ὕμνουν τὸν θεόν, ἐπηκροῶντο δὲ αὐτῶν οἱ δέσμιοι·
26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose.
ἄφνω δὲ σεισμὸς ἐγένετο μέγας ὥστε σαλευθῆναι τὰ θεμέλια τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου, ἠνεῴχθησαν ⸀δὲ παραχρῆμα αἱ θύραι πᾶσαι, καὶ πάντων τὰ δεσμὰ ἀνέθη.
27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors standing open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had escaped.
ἔξυπνος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ καὶ ἰδὼν ἀνεῳγμένας τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς σπασάμενος ⸀τὴν μάχαιραν ἤμελλεν ἑαυτὸν ἀναιρεῖν, νομίζων ἐκπεφευγέναι τοὺς δεσμίους.
28But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
ἐφώνησεν δὲ ⸂φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ὁ Παῦλος⸃ λέγων· Μηδὲν πράξῃς σεαυτῷ κακόν, ἅπαντες γάρ ἐσμεν ἐνθάδε.
29The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
αἰτήσας δὲ φῶτα εἰσεπήδησεν καὶ ἔντρομος γενόμενος προσέπεσεν τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ ⸀τῷ Σιλᾷ,
30He brought them outside and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
καὶ προαγαγὼν αὐτοὺς ἔξω ἔφη· Κύριοι, τί με δεῖ ποιεῖν ἵνα σωθῶ;
31They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."
οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· Πίστευσον ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον ⸀Ἰησοῦν, καὶ σωθήσῃ σὺ καὶ ὁ οἶκός σου.
33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
καὶ παραλαβὼν αὐτοὺς ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ τῆς νυκτὸς ἔλουσεν ἀπὸ τῶν πληγῶν, καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ αὐτοῦ ⸀πάντες παραχρῆμα,
34He brought them up into his house and set a meal before them, and he rejoiced with his whole household that he had come to believe in God.
ἀναγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν ⸀οἶκον παρέθηκεν τράπεζαν καὶ ⸀ἠγαλλιάσατο πανοικεὶ πεπιστευκὼς τῷ θεῷ.
Co-worker in the letters
Silas is a co-author of several of Paul's letters and is mentioned in Peter's letters.
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace.
Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ ⸀εἰρήνη.
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ·
12With the help of Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
Διὰ Σιλουανοῦ ὑμῖν τοῦ πιστοῦ ἀδελφοῦ, ὡς λογίζομαι, διʼ ὀλίγων ἔγραψα, παρακαλῶν καὶ ἐπιμαρτυρῶν ταύτην εἶναι ἀληθῆ χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ· εἰς ἣν ⸀στῆτε.