Silas

 

(sī'ləs) , in the Acts of the Apostles, early Christian leader and companion of Paul on two missionary journeys. Probably he is the Silvanus mentioned frequently in the Letters.

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Silas or Silvanus (flourished 1st century) was a leading member of the first Christian community in Jerusalem and later became a companion of Paul in his first missionary journey to Antioch, and also in Paul's second missionary journey to Galatia.

Silas is listed as a co-author or co-sender of Paul's First and Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, a part of the canon of the New Testament. Later in his ministry, Silas teamed with Peter on missions in Pontus and Cappadocia. He also served as Peter’s scribe, as 1 Pet. 5:12, indicates that Silas wrote the First Epistle of Peter. He is currently commemorated in the Calendar of Saints of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on January 26 with Timothy and the Apostle Titus and separately on February 10 by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

The name Silas is a Greek nickname for the Latin Silvanus, which means "of the forest." Although a Roman in the Bible, the name "Silas" may be derived from pre-Roman Italian languages (see, e.g., the character "Asilas", an Etruscan leader and warrior-prophet who plays a prominent role in assisting Aeneas in Virgil's epic poem the Aeneid).

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