Silas: the heart of a servant
Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren (Acts 15:22).
In the Bible we have people who appear and also disappear suddenly. Silas is such a character. We know him best as a fellow worker with Paul on his second missionary journey. We learn in Acts 9 that the Lord chose Paul “to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (v. 15). For these reasons, the book of Acts focuses on Paul’s remarkable service. But we must not forget the people who worked and suffered alongside the apostle, and learn from their spiritual attributes and the contributions they made.
Silas, with Barsabbas (ESV), is introduced as a leading Christian in Jerusalem. He was not an immature believer like John Mark or Timothy. Silas was a mature servant of God who was a spiritual leader and highly regarded by the apostles. He is an example to us of a man who took spiritual responsibility and devoted himself to the service of God. At a time when the Church was troubled by those who sought to mix the law with grace, it needed calm, determined and Christ-centred spiritual leadership. Silas and Barsabbas were sent with Paul and Barnabas to reassure, encourage and strengthen the thriving church at Antioch. Silas demonstrated his gift in this work (Acts 15:32). He is marked by total commitment to the service of God and an obvious love for the Flock of God. Instead of returning to Jerusalem, Silas remained in Antioch, convinced it was where God wanted him to be (Acts 15:34).
We can see the direction of God in sending Silas to and keeping him in Antioch. Paul and Barnabas decided to go in separate directions. Paul would have missed his friend Barnabas, but in Silas God provides a man with similar spiritual qualities, and Silas joins Paul on his second missionary journey. It is so helpful to learn how God dovetails the movements of His servants so that His work progresses. Barnabas took care of John Mark, and Silas supported Paul in his extensive ministry. Silas also had the brethren’s confidence as he and Paul are “commended by the brethren to the grace of God (Acts 15:40). Shortly afterwards, at Derbe and Lystra, they meet Timothy and take him with them.
At Philippi in Acts 16, Silas works closely with Paul, and the work of God begins in the heart of Lydia. Key to this work was a daily ministry of prayer – a timely reminder of the need of constant prayer in the service of God. Whilst undertaking this ministry (v. 16), Paul delivers the slave girl from Satan’s power. As a result, Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned. Like Peter and John in Acts 3-4, Paul and Silas worked closely together and, when persecution came, they suffered together. Their ministry of prayer and praise continues in the prison, and when the Philippian jailer asks them what he needed to do to be saved we read, “They (Paul and Silas) said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and your household’” (v. 31). Silas, by example, still encourages us today to work, stand, suffer, pray, praise and witness together in the service of God’s people and in reaching out with the Gospel.
