A leading member of the Jerusalem congregation, a prophet and a Roman citizen, chosen by Paul as his companion for the second missionary journey after the split with Barnabas (Acts 15:40) — imprisoned and singing with Paul at Philippi, and present at the founding of the Corinthian congregation. 'Silvanus' is the Latinised form Paul uses; Luke calls him by the shorter Aramaic 'Silas'. He is named at 2 Corinthians 1:19 as one of the three — with Paul and Timothy — who first preached Christ in Corinth, and later carried 1 Peter (1 Peter 5:12). The two names are the same man.