Silas/Silvanus
Paul's faithful missionary companion
Silas, also known as Silvanus, was a leading figure in the early church in Jerusalem and became Paul's most important co-worker on his second missionary journey. He was a Roman citizen and prophet who played a central role in bringing the gospel to Europe and was a co-author of several New Testament letters.
Événements clés
Sent from Jerusalem with the apostolic letter
Silas was chosen as a leading man in the Jerusalem church to bring the decision of the apostles' council to Gentile Christians in Antioch, together with Judas Barsabbas.
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,
23They sent this letter with them: "The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
γράψαντες διὰ χειρὸς ⸀αὐτῶν· Οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ ⸀πρεσβύτεροι ἀδελφοὶ τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν καὶ Συρίαν καὶ Κιλικίαν ἀδελφοῖς τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν χαίρειν.
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·
Joins Paul on the second missionary journey
After Paul and Barnabas parted ways, Paul chose Silas as his new travel companion for the missionary journey through Syria and Cilicia.
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.
Imprisoned in Philippi
Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison in Philippi, but in the middle of the night they sang hymns, an earthquake opened the doors, and the jailer and his household were saved.
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,
20They brought them to the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and they are throwing our city into an uproar.
καὶ προσαγαγόντες αὐτοὺς τοῖς στρατηγοῖς εἶπαν· Οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἐκταράσσουσιν ἡμῶν τὴν πόλιν Ἰουδαῖοι ὑπάρχοντες,
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.
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.
Persecution in Thessalonica and Berea
Silas accompanied Paul to Thessalonica and Berea where they preached in the synagogues, but had to flee due to persecution from Jewish opponents.
4Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great many devout Greeks and a number of the leading women.
καί τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐπείσθησαν καὶ προσεκληρώθησαν τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Σιλᾷ, τῶν τε σεβομένων Ἑλλήνων ⸂πλῆθος πολὺ⸃ γυναικῶν τε τῶν πρώτων οὐκ ὀλίγαι.
5But the Jews grew jealous. They rounded up some scoundrels from the marketplace, formed a mob, and set the city in an uproar. They stormed Jason's house, looking to bring them out before the assembly.
⸂ζηλώσαντες δὲ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ προσλαβόμενοι⸃ τῶν ἀγοραίων ⸂ἄνδρας τινὰς⸃ πονηροὺς καὶ ὀχλοποιήσαντες ἐθορύβουν τὴν πόλιν, ⸂καὶ ἐπιστάντες⸃ τῇ οἰκίᾳ Ἰάσονος ἐζήτουν αὐτοὺς ⸀προαγαγεῖν εἰς τὸν δῆμον·
10That very night the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Οἱ δὲ ἀδελφοὶ εὐθέως ⸀διὰ νυκτὸς ἐξέπεμψαν τόν τε Παῦλον καὶ τὸν Σιλᾶν εἰς Βέροιαν, οἵτινες παραγενόμενοι εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν ⸂τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἀπῄεσαν⸃·
14So the brothers immediately sent Paul off toward the sea, while Silas and Timothy stayed behind.
εὐθέως δὲ τότε τὸν Παῦλον ἐξαπέστειλαν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πορεύεσθαι ⸀ἕως ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν· ⸂ὑπέμεινάν τε⸃ ὅ τε Σιλᾶς καὶ ὁ Τιμόθεος ἐκεῖ.
Ministry in Corinth
Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Corinth, where together they proclaimed the gospel and established the church there.
5When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself entirely to the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
Ὡς δὲ κατῆλθον ἀπὸ τῆς Μακεδονίας ὅ τε Σιλᾶς καὶ ὁ Τιμόθεος, συνείχετο τῷ ⸀λόγῳ ὁ Παῦλος, διαμαρτυρόμενος τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ⸀εἶναι τὸν χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν.
Co-author of letters
Silvanus is mentioned as a co-author of the letters to the Thessalonians, and later he helped Peter write his first letter.
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.
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.