Encouraging and Strengthening the Brothers
Along with Ss. Timothy and Titus, St. Silas was another one of St. Paul’s close companions in the Gospel. In Acts 15 Paul selects Silas to accompany him on his second missionary journey, and the last we hear specific mention of Silas in Acts is in chapter 18, when Silas and Timothy meet up with Paul again in Macedonia. But you might be surprised to learn that Silas also appears in the epistles, not as “Silas” but under the Latin rendering of his name, Silvanus.
Silas arrives on the scene in Acts following the Council of Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas had traveled from Antioch to discuss whether Gentile believers need to be circumcised. Overseen by James, the council concluded not to burden non-Jews with this requirement. The apostles then selected Silas and Judas (Barsabbas) from among the men present to accompany Paul and Barnabas on their journey back to Antioch with news of the decision.
The men read the letter in Antioch, but then Barnabas and Paul go their separate ways, Paul choosing to continue with Silas and Barnabas with John Mark. Paul and Silas departed. Along the way they met and picked up Timothy in Derbe and continued through Phrygia and Galatia to Macedonia, where they cast out a demon from a divinizing woman, but the owner perceived she was no longer good for a profit, so he had the two beaten and thrown in jail.
In jail, Paul and Silas, not only refuse to despair, but are found singing and praying—the very thing they had set out to do before! A change of location and circumstance would not prevent them from worshipping the Lord. Their joy soon grew when an earthquake struck and the jail was opened, but Paul and Silas prevented the jailor from taking his own life, and moreover, the Lord gave him his life through baptism, which he and his whole household received that very day
Paul and Silas continue to Thessalonica, but after being rejected there they quickly move on to Berea where word caught up with them and more rioting followed. Paul traveled on, but Silas remained and continued to encourage the church in Berea until Paul requested his presence and Silas joined him again in Macedonia.
From the epistles, we gather that Silas (Silvanus) became a scribe for Peter (I Peter), and tradition tells us that he became the first bishop in Corinth.
Brief History
Although some denominations celebrate Silas along with Timothy and Titus on January 26th or on July 14th or 30th, the Lutheran sanctoral calendar is a bit of an odd man out, commemorating him on February 10. Interestingly, Wilhelm Loehe’s calendar doesn’t mention St. Silas (or Silvanus), but we know from the Church’s general observance of him across denominations that Christians have long commemorated Silas as one who holds special significance for fellow bishops, pastors, missionaries of the Gospel, and all Christians.
Collect
O Almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord: grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to the unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through the same, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Lessons
Resources
Issues, Etc. interview with the Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz on Silas, Fellow Worker of the Apostles Paul and Peter
Propers found in Daily Divine Service Book: A Lutheran Daily Missal, edited by the Rev. Heath Curtis
References:
1. Pfatteicher, Philip H. Festivals and Commemorations. Augsburg Publishing House. 1980.
2. Treasury of Daily Prayer. Concordia Publishing House. 2008.
3. Weedon, William. Celebrating the Saints. Concordia Publishing House. 2016.
Images:
1. Bekering van de gevangenenbewaarder van Filippi, Johann Sadeler, Belgium, 1580.
2. Scourging of Saint Paul and Saint Silas, Jacob Jordaens, Belgium, 1655.
3. Apostle Silas, source unknown, public domain via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silas,_apostle.jpg
