Search
Previous person      Next person

Mentioned in the Bible by name
Silas/Silvanus

Time-period: ❼ Jesus - (0-100 e.Kr.)
Age: -
Alt. names/spellings: Silas, Silvanus



Report a problem

Usage in the Bible


Silas G4609
Σίλας (Silas)
12 times in NT
Silvanus G4610
Σιλουανός (Silouanos)
4 times in NT
Total    16 times

Person database BETA

The database for persons is still in progress. If you find something wrong, please contact us.

References (17)

Filter:

Only by name (17)
Only key verses (9)
Hide genitive (17)
Act 15:22
  Interlinear
Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole assembly decided to appoint some men from among themselves and send them to Antioch [in Syria] together with Paul and Barnabas. They chose two leading men from among the brothers: Jude, called Barsabbas, and Silas [Silvanus].
[This is the only time Jude Barsabbas is mentioned. He may be the brother of Joseph Barsabbas, see Acts 1:23. The name "Bar-sabbas" literally means "born on a Sabbath." Silas is also known as Silvanus, which is the longer Latin form of his name, see 1 Pet. 5:12. He later accompanies Paul on his second journey, see Acts 15:32, 41; 16:25. Judas was a Jew from Judea and Silas was Greek. One person from each side of the conflict was chosen to accompany Paul and Barnabas and confirm the decision.]
Act 15:27
  Interlinear
So we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things verbally.
Act 15:32
  Interlinear
Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged (comforted, helped) and strengthened the brothers and sisters in the faith with many words.
Act 15:34
  Interlinear
[The earliest manuscripts do not include verse 34: "Silas, however, decided to stay there. Only Jude left them."]
Act 15:40
  Interlinear
Paul, on the other hand, chose Silas and set out, after the brethren (brothers and sisters in faith) had committed him to the Lord's mercy.
Act 16:19
  Interlinear
When her masters saw that their hope of income was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the marketplace before the authorities.
Act 16:25
  Interlinear
At midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. The other prisoners listened (attentively, with joy) to them.
Act 16:29
  Interlinear
Then he asked for light (several torches) and rushed in and fell down in fear before Paul and Silas.
Act 17:4
  Interlinear
Some of them were convinced and joined Paul and Silas. In addition, a large number of Greeks who revered God and not a few women of noble birth joined them.
Act 17:10
  Interlinear
That very night, the brothers and sisters in the faith sent Paul and Silas to Berea. As soon as they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue.
[Until the 19th century, Luke's precise choice of words, "politarkers," for the city's leadership was questioned because the word was not used in other literature, see verse 6 and 8. In 1876, however, an inscription with this word was found on the arch of one of the city gates, followed by six names. The find dates back to around 150 AD. In total, over thirty similar inscriptions have now been found in this area.]
Act 17:14
  Interlinear
Immediately the brothers and sisters sent Paul down to the coast [to one of the coastal cities of Dium or Pydna], but Silas and Timothy remained [in Berea].
Act 17:15
  Interlinear
Paul's guides took him all the way to Athens and then returned with a message for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible.
[Athens is located 500 km south of Berea. It is likely that they sailed along the coast to Piraeus, which was the port city of Athens, a journey of three days. If they took the land route, the journey took 16 days. The fact that the believers who showed the way accompanied Paul all the way to Athens shows their devotion.]
Act 18:5
  Interlinear
When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia [with funds from Philippi and Thessalonica, see 1 Thess 3:6; 2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:15], Paul began to devote himself entirely to preaching the word [without having to work for his own livelihood as a tentmaker, see verse 3]. He testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ),
2 Cor 1:19
  Interlinear
For the Son of God, Jesus the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ), who was preached to you by me, Silvanus [the same man who in Acts 15:22 is called Silas], and Timothy, was not both yes and no; in him there is only a yes.
1 Thess 1:1
  Interlinear
[From:] Paul and
Silvanus [also called Silas] and
Timothy [Paul's closest colleague].
[The letter contains many triplets and begins with three personal names. Silvanus is the same person whom Luke refers to as Silas in the Acts of the Apostles. Here Paul uses the Latin form of his name. He was a recognized leader in the church in Jerusalem and, like Paul, was a Roman citizen, see Acts 15:22, 37. Silas and Timothy traveled with Paul on his second missionary journey, see Acts 18:5. They had remained in Thessalonica after Paul was forced to flee the city. Now all three have been reunited in Corinth, see 1 Thess 3:6. The letter is written at the beginning of the 1.5 years that Paul is there, see Acts 18:11.]
To:
Thessalonica congregation (the called out ones – Gk. ekklesia),
who live in God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ).
[The Greek word for congregation is ekklesia. In classical Greek, the word could describe all kinds of gatherings of people, such as the legal assembly of the people or a mob, see Acts 19:32, 39. The literal meaning is "the called out ones." Paul is careful to emphasize that the church in Thessalonica is not just any group of people, they are God's church. In the Bible, the word can describe the local assembly in a town. That is how it is used here, but it can also refer to the universal assembly of all believers throughout the ages, see Matt. 16:18.]
Grace (power, undeserved favor) and peace (harmony, freedom from fear, well-being) be with you.
[The introduction to this letter is the shortest of all Paul's letters. He does not use the title of apostle, which shows his close relationship with the church. Silas and Timothy are also with him in Corinth, see Acts 18:5; 2 Cor. 1:19.]
2 Thess 1:1
  Interlinear
[From:]
Paul and
Silvanus [also called Silas] and
Timothy [Paul's closest co-worker]. [Silvanus is the same person whom Luke calls Silas in the Acts of the Apostles. Here Paul uses the Latin form of his name. He was a recognized leader in the church in Jerusalem and, like Paul, was a Roman citizen, see Acts 15:22, 37.
Silas and Timothy traveled with Paul on his second missionary journey, see Acts 18:5. They had remained in Thessalonica after Paul was forced to flee the city. Now all three have been reunited in Corinth, see 1 Thess 3:6. The letter is written at the beginning of the 1.5 years that Paul is there, see Acts 18:11.] To:
Thessalonica congregation (the called out ones – Gk. ekklesia),
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ). [The Greek word for congregation is ekklesia. In classical Greek, the word could describe all kinds of gatherings of people, such as the legal assembly of the people or a mob, see Acts 19:32, 39. The literal meaning is "the called out ones." Paul is careful to emphasize that the assembly in Thessalonica is not just any group of people, they are God's assembly. In the Bible, the word can describe the local assembly in a town. That is how it is used here, but it can also refer to the universal assembly of all believers throughout the ages, see Matt. 16:18.]
1 Pet 5:12
  Interlinear
I [Peter] have written this short letter to you through Silvanus, whom I know to be a faithful brother. I have written to encourage (admonish, appeal to you) and confirm (testify to) that this [the content of this letter as a whole] is God's true grace. Stand firm in it [grace].
[Silvanus is the same person whom Luke calls Silas in the Acts of the Apostles, see Acts 15:22; 16:25, 40; 17:4; 18:5. Here Peter uses the Latin form of his name, as does Paul, see 2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1. He was a recognized leader in the church in Jerusalem and a Roman citizen, see Acts 15:22, 37. He traveled with Paul on his second missionary journey, see Acts 18:5. He was a faithful co-worker of both Peter and Paul. Peter concludes his letter with an exhortation to stand firm in grace. There is a fine balance between receiving grace through Jesus, see Heb. 1:3, and the exhortation to also remain in that grace.]