Silas

How Nave’s arranged it

• (The short form of the name)
• Also called SILVANUS (the long form of the name)
• Sent to Paul, in Antioch (of Syria), from JerusalemActs 15:22–34
• Becomes Paul' s companionActs 15:40Acts 15:412 Corinthians 1:191 Thessalonians 1:12 Thessalonians 1:1
• Imprisoned with Paul in PhilippiActs 16:19–40
• Driven, with Paul, from ThessalonicaActs 17:4–10
• Left by Paul at BereaActs 17:14
• Rejoins Paul at CorinthActs 17:15Acts 18:5
• Carries Peter' s letter to Asia Minor1 Peter 5:12

The passages, in Bible order (12)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 12 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Acts 15:22–34

   Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

   ›Commentary on Acts 15:22–342 voices

   “The wisdom of these suggestions commended itself to all present. Judas surnamed Barsabas--therefore not the apostle "Judas the brother of James" (Ac 1:13), surnamed "Thaddeus" (Mt 10:3); nor can it be shown that he was a brother of "Joseph called Barsabas" (Ac 1:23). But nothing is known of him beyond what is here said. and Silas--the same as "Silvanus" in the Epistles.

   “With the whole Church - Which therefore had a part therein; to send chosen men - Who might put it beyond all dispute, that this was the judgment of the apostles and all the brethren.

   Everything gathered on Acts 15:22–34→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Acts 15:40

   but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

   ›Commentary on Acts 15:401 voice

   “And Paul chose Silas,.... To be his companion and assistant; this being the design of the Holy Ghost in influencing his, mind to stay longer at Antioch, after he, with Judas, was dismissed by the church to go to Jerusalem, Act 15:33. and departed; that is, from Antioch: being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God; See Gill on Act 13:

   Everything gathered on Acts 15:40→

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3. Acts 15:41

   And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

   ›Commentary on Acts 15:412 voices

   “Before going to other cities, he visits those which had already received the word of God. We do the same: we first instruct the earliest people, so that they do not become an obstacle to the instruction of those who come after.

   “And he went through Syria and Cilicia,.... Antioch was the metropolis of the former, and Tarsus, the apostle's native place, was in the latter; and in both these countries he had been before, and had been the instrument of converting many souls, and of planting churches, which he now visited, as he proposed to Barnabas to do: for it follows, confirming the churches; in the Gospel, and the truths and ordinances of it, he had before instructed them in: of the church at Antioch; see Gill on Act 11:

   Everything gathered on Acts 15:41→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Acts 16:19–40

   When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.

   ›Commentary on Acts 16:19–402 voices

   “The magistrates - The supreme magistrates of the city. In the next verse they are called by a title which often signifies pretors. These officers exercised both the military and civil authority.

   "Her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit was gone." Everywhere the cause of evil is money. For the sake of enrichment, the woman's masters wanted her to be possessed by a demon. Look: they do not even want to acknowledge the demon, but …

   Everything gathered on Acts 16:19–40→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Acts 17:4–10

   Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.

   ›Commentary on Acts 17:4–102 voices

   "Of the Greeks that worshipped God a great multitude." By Greeks he means Jews who spoke Greek, or else he means proselytes numbered among the Jews, from among the Greeks. He calls them worshippers of God because they observed the Law.

   “The devout Greeks - That is, Gentiles who were proselytes to the Jewish religion, so far as to renounce idolatry, and live a moral life, but probably had not received circumcision.

   Everything gathered on Acts 17:4–10→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Acts 17:14

   The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.

   ›Commentary on Acts 17:142 voices

   “Accordingly, it was only on arriving at Athens, that the convoy of Berean brethren, who had gone thus far with him, were sent back to bid Silas and Timothy follow him thither. Silas and Timotheus abode there still--"to build it up in its holy faith, to be a comfort and support in its trials and persecutions, and to give it such organization as might be necessary" [HOWSON].

   "Then the brethren immediately sent Paul away… to Athens." The apostles avoided dangers not out of fear, but by divine inspiration, because in this instance, for example, they had already ceased preaching and were no longer provoking their enemies. From the fact that Paul withdrew, …

   Everything gathered on Acts 17:14→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Acts 17:15

   Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

   ›Commentary on Acts 17:152 voices

   “And they that conducted Paul,.... From Berea to the sea side: brought him unto Athens; a famous city in Attica, where both (q) Pliny and Ptolomy (r) place it, well known for the learning and wisdom of the ancient philosophers, who had their schools and universities in it; the former of these calls it a free city, and says, it needed no description nor commendation, its fame was so diffused everywhere.

   “Unto Athens - This was the first visit of Paul to this celebrated city; and perhaps the first visit of a Christian minister. His success in this city, for some cause, was not great, but his preaching was attended with the conversion of some individuals. See Act 17:34. Athens was the most celebrated city of Greece, and was distinguished for the military talents, the learning, the eloquence, and the politeness of its inhabitants. It was founded by Cecrops and an Egyptian colony about 1556 years before the Christian era.

   Everything gathered on Acts 17:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Acts 18:5

   And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

   ›Commentary on Acts 18:52 voices

   “But now at length both Silas and Timotheus came to the apostle at Corinth. Paul was pressed in spirit - The more probably from what Silas and Timotheus related. Every Christian ought diligently to observe any such pressure in his own spirit, and if it agree with Scripture, to follow it: if he does not he will feel great heaviness.

   “And when Silas and Timotheus ... - They came to Paul according to the request which he had sent by the brethren who accompanied him from Thessalonica, Act 17:15. Paul was pressed - Was urged; was borne away by an unusual impulse. It was deeply impressed on him as his duty. In spirit - In his mind; in his feelings. His love to Christ was so great, and his conviction of the truth so strong, that he labored to make known to them the truth that Jesus Was the Messiah.

   Everything gathered on Acts 18:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 2 Corinthians 1:19

   For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”

   ›Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1:192 voices

   “Competent preachers ought to be unambiguous about what they say. Say nothing that is not beneficial. Given that our human will often tends in ambivalent directions, Paul is insistent that he is not acting according to his will but according to what he knows will …

   “For the Son of God - In this verse, and the following, Paul states that he felt himself bound to maintain the strictest veracity for two reasons; the one, that Jesus Christ always evinced the strictest veracity 2Co 1:19; the other, God was always true to all the promises that He made 2Co 1:20; and as he felt himself to be the servant of the Saviour and of God, he was bound by the most sacred obligations also to maintain a character irreproachable in regard to veracity on the meaning of the phrase “Son of God,” see the note, Rom 1:

   Everything gathered on 2 Corinthians 1:19→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 1 Thessalonians 1:1

    Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

    ›Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:12 voices

    “Paul - In this epistle St. Paul neither uses the title of an apostle, nor any other, as writing to pious and simple-hearted men, with the utmost familiarity. There is a peculiar sweetness in this epistle, unmixed with any sharpness or reproof: those evils which the apostles afterward reproved having not yet crept into the church.

    “This is the salutation in all the Epistles of Paul, except the three pastoral ones, which have "grace, mercy, and peace." Some of the oldest manuscripts support, others omit the clause following, "from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." It may have crept in from 1Co 1:3;

    Everything gathered on 1 Thessalonians 1:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 2 Thessalonians 1:1

    Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

    ›Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 1:11 voice

    “Paul, and Silvanus, etc. - See the notes on 1Th 1:1. This epistle was written a short time after the former: and as Silas and Timothy were still at Corinth, the apostle joins their names with his own, as in the former case.

    Everything gathered on 2 Thessalonians 1:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. 1 Peter 5:12

    Through 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 firm in it.

    ›Commentary on 1 Peter 5:122 voices

    “As I suppose - As I judge, upon good grounds, though not by immediate inspiration. I have written - That is, sent my letter by him. Adding my testimony - To that which ye before heard from Paul, that this is the true gospel of the grace of God.

    “Through Sylvanus, your faithful brother, etc. What he says, beseeching, can refer to what precedes, because he writes briefly after all, not commanding, but beseeching them to stand firm in faith. It can also be rightly connected to what follows, so that it is understood …

    Everything gathered on 1 Peter 5:12→

    Verse page →Original language →