'Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

Paul also and

Barnabas continued in Antioch' (Acts 15:34,35).

The Revised Version places verse 34 in the margin, but, whether it

forms a part of the sacred text or not, Silas must have remained at Antioch,

as the close of the chapter reveals.

We have no hint as to what was working in the mind of Silas.  Whether

he saw what was coming; whether he placed himself before the Lord as being

willing further to hazard his life for His name; whether he was moved at the

failure of Barnabas at this critical point (see Gal. 2:11 -13), we know not.

We do know, however, that the Lord, Who knows the hearts of all men, knew

just how far Barnabas would go, and so provided His servant Paul with another

comforter and companion.

It must have been a great shock to Paul when Barnabas was 'carried

away', but when this was followed by the insistence of Barnabas that his

relative, John Mark, should, in spite of his failure at Pamphylia, be

included in the company to revisit Galatia, there was a breach, and Barnabas

took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus.  Thus Paul was left alone.  But the visit

to Galatia could hardly be undertaken single -handed.  A companion was wanted

who could be trusted; who was not easily moved with fear; who could, as

occasion arose, take an active part in the ministry.  Such a one was Silas, a

'leader'; one who had already hazarded his life; one who could minister the

spoken word:

'And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren

unto the grace of God.  And he went through Syria and Cilicia,

confirming the churches' (Acts 15:40,41).

Now Barnabas was a Levite, but Silas was a Roman citizen, a difference

not to be underestimated, seeing that the next step was the preaching of the

gospel for the first time in Europe.  That Silas was a Roman is made clear by

Paul's words in Acts 16:37: 'They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being

After Paul had accomplished his design of revisiting

the churches in Galatia, he most naturally continued his journey with the

intention of preaching in Asia, but this was forbidden by the Holy Spirit.

Turning north, therefore, they attempted to enter Bithynia, but again they

were prevented by the Holy Spirit.  Thus no alternative was left but to turn

back, or to go straight on.  We can well understand that to these pioneers

the thought of turning back would have been intolerable.  So, with doors shut

on either side, they came to Troas.  Here their problem was solved by the

vision of the man of Macedonia, and thus fortified by the certainty of divine

guidance, the apostle and his faithful band set foot for the first time in

Philippi.  Here Silas proved his willingness to suffer for the Lord, for it

was Paul and Silas who sang together in the innermost prison.

Both at Thessalonica and at Berea, Silas is found faithfully seconding

the apostle's witness.  The Jews of Thessalonica stirred up the people at

Berea, and in order to cover Paul's movements, Silas and Timothy remained

behind at Berea, while Paul was sent away to the sea and conducted to Athens.

From Athens, Paul sent a request to Silas and Timothy to rejoin him with all

speed (Acts 17:4,10,14,15).  However, Paul had given his testimony on Mars

Hill, and reached Corinth before Silas and Timothy rejoined him (Acts 18:5).