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Topic:
Persons
Of The Bible -- Silas
The name "Silas" is the short form of "Silvanus"
and means wood or woody.
An eminent member of the early Christian Church at Jerusalem,
described under that name in the Acts, but as Silvanus in St. Paul's
epistles. He first appears as one of the leaders of the church at
Jerusalem (Acts 15:22) holding the office of an inspired teacher. (Acts
15:32) His name, derived from the Latin silva, "wood,"
betokens him a Hellenistic Jew, and he appears to have been a Roman
citizen. (Acts 16:37) He was appointed as a delegate to accompany Paul
and Barnabas on their return to Antioch with the decree of the Council
of Jerusalem. (Acts 15:22,32) Having accomplished this mission, he
returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 15:33) He must, however, have immediately
revisited Antioch, for we find him selected by St. Paul as the companion
of his second missionary journey. (Acts 15:40; Acts 17:10) At Berea he
was left behind with Timothy while St. Paul proceeded to Athens, (Acts
17:14) and we hear nothing more of his movements until he rejoined the
apostle at Corinth. (Acts 18:5) His presence at Corinth is several times
noticed. (2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1)
Whether he was the Silvanus who conveyed St. Peter's first epistle to
Asia Minor, (1 Peter 5:12) is doubtful, the probabilities are in favor
of the identity. A tradition of very slight authority represents Silas
to have become bishop of Corinth. There is no record of the time or
place of his death.
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible
Dictionaries
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