Note 3 at Acts 15:22: This is the only mention of this Barsabbas in scripture. We know that he was a prophet (v.32) and a leader in the Jerusalem church (v. 22). He ministered briefly in Antioch before returning to Jerusalem (vv. 32- 33).

Note 4 at Acts 15:22: This is the first mention of Silas in scripture. From this verse we can tell that Silas had already become a leader in the Jerusalem church. He was chosen along with Judas Barsabbas, to carry the decision of the council at Jerusalem about the qualifications for gentile conversion to the believers in Antioch which he did (v. 27). After fulfilling this mission, he stayed in Antioch for a while (vv. 33-34), ministering to the saints as a prophet (v. 32).

After Paul and Barnabas split company (v. 39), Paul chose Silas to accompany him on his second missionary journey (v. 40). Silas was with Paul as he traveled back through the cities he had ministered in during his first missionary trip and was surely a friend of Timothy who joined Paul at that time (Acts 16:1-3; 17:14-15). Paul and Silas were thrown in prison at Philippi (Acts 16:19-34) but Silas remained in Berea with Timothy when Paul had to flea that city because of persecution (Acts 17:14).

While Paul was in Athens, he sent for Silas and Timothy (Acts 17:15), but Acts 18:5 would leave the impression that they didn't catch up with Paul until he was in Corinth. There is no further mention of Silas in the book of Acts although Paul does mention in his letter to the Corinthians that Silas and Timothy ministered with him in that city (2 Cor. 1:19). Paul's first and second letter to the Thessalonians was from Paul and Silas and Timothy (1 Th. 1:1; 2 Th. 1:1). Silas is called Silvanus in the epistles.

Most people believe that Silas is the Silvanus who carried the first epistle of the Peter to it's readers (1 Pet. 5:12) thereby linking Silas with the apostle Peter. Silas, like Paul, was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37) which was very useful in his travels.