Silas

For the character in The Da Vinci Code, see Silas (The Da Vinci Code).

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.

The name Silas is a Greek nickname for the Latin Silvanus. 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).