Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, March 19th, 2024
the Fifth Week of Lent
There are 12 days til Easter!
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Dictionaries
Silas

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Signs
Next Entry
Simeon
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

Among the more open-minded Jewish Christians in the Jerusalem church was Silas, sometimes called Silvanus. Besides being Jewish, he had the privileged status of Roman citizenship (Acts 15:22; Acts 16:37). He was present at the conference in Jerusalem that discussed the problems created by Jewish legalists among the Gentile churches. When the Jerusalem leaders decided to send representatives to reassure the Gentile churches, Silas was one of the two they chose (Acts 15:22-27). He was a preacher whose messages strengthened the hearers (Acts 15:32).

Silas must have impressed Paul with his conduct at the conference in Jerusalem. As a result Paul chose him as his fellow worker for a missionary tour to the recently planted Gentile churches and beyond (Acts 15:40). He was with Paul through dangerous experiences in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Corinth (Acts 16:19-40; Acts 17:1-15; Acts 18:5-11), and Paul often spoke warmly of him as his fellow worker (2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1).

After his association with Paul, Silas worked closely with Peter. He visited Rome with Peter, and played a part in the writing of 1 Peter, a letter that Peter sent to the churches of northern Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12-13; see PETER, LETTERS OF).

Bibliography Information
Fleming, Don. Entry for 'Silas'. Bridgeway Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​bbd/​s/silas.html. 2004.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile