The Apostolic Age · AD 4–70
Silas (Silvanus)
d. later 1st c. (trad., Macedonia) · Prophet of Jerusalem · Companion of Paul · Co-sender of epistles · Jerusalem → Macedonia
The Apostolic Age
Who Silas (Silvanus) was
A leading man and prophet of the Jerusalem church, chosen to carry the council’s decree to Antioch, then chosen by Paul for the second journey after the break with Barnabas. He was beaten and jailed with Paul at Philippi — singing hymns at midnight when the earthquake came — and left to hold Beroea, and is co-sender of both Thessalonian letters (“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus”). As Silvanus he is the amanuensis-bearer of 1 Peter: “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly.” A Roman citizen like Paul; tradition leaves him bishop in Macedonia.
Common questions
When did Silas die?
Silas (Silvanus) is dated d. later 1st c. (trad., Macedonia) in the archive, which places Silas in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Silas write?
Silas (Silvanus) has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Co-sender of the Thessalonian letters.
Which early sources mention Silas?
Silas (Silvanus) is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Luke the Evangelist and Peter. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Silas from?
The archive associates Silas (Silvanus) with Jerusalem, Macedonia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
Co-sender of the Thessalonian letters
Named with Paul and Timothy at the head of both epistles; 'the faithful brother' who carried 1 PeterPaul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians.Read the full text ↗
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Acts 15:40
c. AD 62And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.Luke the Evangelist · read ↗
Acts 16:25 (the hymns in the Philippian jail)
c. AD 621 Peter 5:12
c. AD 64By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.Peter · read ↗
Connected in the archive
People
- Paul of Tarsus
- Simon Peter
- Timothy of Lystra
- Judas called Barsabbas
- Lydia of Thyatira
- Jason of Thessalonica
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
Place
Places served
The 9 places the sources put Silas, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.
- 1JerusalemA chief man among the brethrenActs 15:22
- 2AntiochCarried the council’s letter down to AntiochActs 15:30–32
- 3LystraWhere Timothy joined themActs 16:1–3
- 4TroasWith Paul when the vision of Macedonia cameActs 16:8–10
- 5PhilippiBeaten and imprisoned; sang at midnightActs 16:19–25
- 6ThessalonicaReasoned three sabbath days in the synagogueActs 17:1–4
- 7BereaSent away by night; stayed when Paul went onActs 17:10–14
- 8CorinthCame down from Macedonia to Paul thereActs 18:5
- 9MacedoniaNamed in the record’s own place fieldTraditional; see the profile