And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. Acts 15:40
A good many years ago, several of us set about to start a children’s work in the town of Hampton. We obtained the use of an old one-room schoolhouse that required massive amounts of cleanup, and developed a little program for the children. We created some materials to use for singing choruses and presenting lessons from the Bible to the children. And then we started holding the meetings every Friday night. At one point, we had good numbers of children attending, and enjoyed working with them and teaching them the Scriptures. At one point, we even created a huge styrofoam and papier mache map of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to Canaan. It was a wonderful time, and from my perspective, it was all the more enjoyable because I had an excellent partner with whom to work, just as Paul in our text found an excellent partner for his missionary work. I am not sure which of us was Paul and which was Silas, but Bob Price and I had a good partnership in that children’s work.
Our text doesn’t say much about Silas, although he is introduced earlier in the chapter as one of the chief men among those in the Assembly in Jerusalem. Although Silas was not one of the twelve disciples, he is widely believed to have been among the 70 who were chosen by the Lord Jesus to assist in His ministry. He had a solid foundation in doctrine and in leadership among the Lord’s people. His interest in the furtherance of the Lord’s work is evident in his decision to remain in Antioch rather than return to Jerusalem after delivering the message from the council concerning circumcision. He was greatly used in Antioch in teaching and preaching, and when Paul required a companion for his missionary journey, Silas had the requirements. We read little more of Silas, other than his participation with Paul in such experiences as the flogging and jailing at Philippi. But he is mentioned several times in the epistles as Sylvanus, showing that his partnership in the work with Paul was long, enduring, and fruitful. We could use more men and women like Silas among us today.
That is not to say that we don’t have counterparts to Silas among us now. Ask any of the Lord’s servants and they will tell you about faithful brothers and sisters in almost every Assembly who can be counted on for support and encouragement and direction when needed. Members of Assembly oversight place great value on the support and companionship of the other elders, and of the sisters who take leading roles in the many of the practical aspects of Assembly activities. These companions in the Lord’s work are all the more valuable as we appreciate their commitment to the Lord Himself.
Have you identified anyone like Silas in your Assembly? You certainly will if you seek to do anything for the Lord. -Jim MacIntosh