Silas was probably born 1st century AD during the Roman Empire. His name isn't mentioned in the 4 Gospels, however, his name is mentioned in the Book of Acts. He was one of the community leaders of the Early Christian Church, who was selected by Paul the Apostle to accompany him in his second journey.
Before accompanying Paul's second journey, Silas and Judas Barsabbas were selected by the church elders to return with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch following the Jerusalem Council. Silas was selected by Paul the Apostle to accompany him on his second mission after Paul and Barnabas split over an argument involving Mark's participation (Wikipedia, 2018). After Paul selected Silas, including Timothy and Luke the Evangelist, they set sail to Europe.
Imprisonment at Philippi
(Acts 16:16-24)
As they were going to the place of prayer, they met a slave girl with an oracular spirit, who used to bring a large profit to her owners through her fortune-telling. She began to follow Paul and his disciples, shouting, "These people are slaves of the Most High God who proclaim to you a way of salvation."She did this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned, and said, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." Then it came out at that moment.
When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square before the local authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These people are Jews and are disturbing out city and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us Romans to adopt or practice." The crowd joined in the attack on them, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.
Deliverance from Prison
(Acts 16:25-39)
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself , thinking that the prisoners escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do no harm to yourself; we are all here." He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved." So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized as Christians at once. He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the lictors with the order, "Release those men." The jailer reported these words to Paul, "The magistrates have sent orders that you be released. Now, then come out and go in peace." But Paul said to them. "They have beaten us publicly, even though we are Roman citizens and have not been tried, and have thrown us into prison. And now, are they going to release us secretly? By no means. Let them come themselves and lead us out." The lictors reported these words to the magistrates, and they became alarmed when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and placated them, and led them out and asked that they leave the city.
When they had come out of the prison, Paul and Silas went to Lydia's house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and they left.
Silas and Timothy travelled with Paul from Philippi to Thessalonica, where they were treated with hostility in the synagogues by some traditional Jews. The harassers followed the trio to Berea, threatening Paul's safety, and causing Paul to separate from Silas and Timothy.Paul travelled to Athens, and Silas and Timothy later joined him in Corinth (Acts 18:5). Years past, Silas suffered martyrdom between 65-100 AD in Macedonia.
Silas was venerated in Roman and Eastern Catholic Church, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglicanism Church, and Lutheranism Church. According to Western Christianity, his feast day is on July 13, while according to Eastern Christianity, his feast day is on July 30. Saint Silas' attribute is Christian Martyrdom or chains.
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Book of Ancient Saints: Volume 1
Non-FictionSaints are people, who are accepted as being holy, religious, and virtuous. In Christianity, more than thousands of saints gave up their life for God or died for Jesus Christ. This volume are true-to-life stories of saints who were born between BC...
