LiTERATURK. — E. Robinson, Biblical Reftearches in PaUatine^, 3 vols., 1860, ii. 478 B. ; O. Hamdy-Bey and T. Reinach, I.a Ni^cropole royale de Sidon^ 1892-90 ; C. Baedeker, J^alestine and Syria'', 1894. JamES StkAHAN.
492
SIGN
SILAS OR SILVANUS
SIGN. — Tlio word (r7)^«?ov ('sign') is used (l)of the iiutogniphic part of a letter, tlie mark of authenticity— 2 Tli 3" (EV ' tol<eii ') ; (2) as mean- ing a ' symbol ' — Ko 4" (the ' sign of oirciiincision,' i.e. circumcision as a sign of tlie covenant) ; (3) as an 'indication' — Mt '2G'"* (Judas' Iviss), Lk 2'- (to tlie Shepherds) 2-'^ (the child Jesus set for a sign) : (4) hence for some wonderful indication — Mt 24S-3», Mk 13^ (of Christ's Coming), Mt 16'-*, Mk8", 'Mk' 16"--", Lk W-'' (to show Christ's power), Mt 16^ (signs of the times) 16^ (sign of Jonah), 1 Co 14^'^ (tongues and prophesying as a sign of the power of Christianity) ; and therefore for a 'miracle' or wonderful deed which has in- struction as its object. The ' signs in heaven ' of Rev 12'- ' 15' are a connecting link between these two shades of meaning. The usu.al sense of aTfixelov in the NT is a 'miracle,' especially in the plural (see art. Miracle).
In the EV the word ' sign ' is used in two places where arnxi'iov does not occur. In Lk P^ ' thej- m.ide signs ' renders ivivevov, a verb used in Pr 6" 10;» (L.\X) of winking with the eye. In Ac 28" ' a ship whose sign was the Dioscuri ' renders ttXoIu 7rapaar]^(^ Atocr/coi'pots, where TrapaffT/^y is either an adjective ( = ' marked') or else, less probably, a substantive with Aioa-KovpoLS in apposition (but in that case it means a shipa flag in classical Greek ; see Liddell and Scott, s.v.). A. J. Maclean.
SILAS or SILVANOS.— The companion of Paul on his second missionary journey. The shorter (Greek) form of the name is peculiar to Acts, the longer (Latin) form appears four times in the Epistles. Its derivation is uncertain, but may be either of two Hebrew roots, nha or hxty, which would give resfiectively the meanings of ' sent ' and ' asked for.' The fact that Josephus mentions four Jews of the name of Silas points to its Semitic origin.
The first appearance of Silas in Acts is at the close of the Council of Jerusalem, when he and Judas surnamed Barsabbas, described as chief men among the brethren, are chosen to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, with a letter notify- ing the decision. Being prophets, they not only deliver the letter but remain for a time at Antioch, exhorting and conlirraing the bretliren, and then return to Jerusalem. Shortly afterwards, the rupture between Pavil and Barnabas takes place, and Silas is selected by Paul as his new associate, and starts with him on his second missionary joiirney (15-^"'"). As this implies the presence of Silas again at Antioch, it may be supposed that Paul has sent for him to Jerusalem, or that he has returned of his own accord after reporting to the primitive Church the fulfilment of his original mission ; 15^' (AV, ' it pleased Silas to abide there still '), which appears with variations in some ancient MSS, is generally regarded as a gloss. On the subsequent journey Silas is not mentioned till Philippi is reached, when his name becomes associ- ated with that of Paul in all the circumstances of the imprisonment, the conversion of tlie jailer, and the official release. Incidentally, like Paul, he is credited with the possession of the Roman citizen- ship (16'^"'"'). Thereafter, he shares the work and troubles of the Apostle at Thessalonica, and pro- ceeds thence with him to Bercea, where he and Timothy are left, when Paul retires before his Jewish opponents (IT'""). From Athens a message is sent by Paul, instructing them to come to him with all speed (IT"), but he has left that city and arrived at Corinth before they rejoin him (IS''). At this point the name of Silas disappears from the story.
The references to Silvanus in the Epistles accord with the account of Paul's companion in Acts and confirm the theory of their identification. In both
Epistles to the Thessalonians, probably written at Corinth, he appears as joint-autJior with Paul and Timothy, and unites in their friendly greetings (1 Thl', 2Tlil'). In2Co 1'" he is again mentioned with them as a co-workerdn the gospel at Corinth. The inference is that he was the same person as Silas, whom Acts represents as the companion of Paul and Timothy both at Thessalonica and at Corinth. The final reference — 1 P 5'-' (' by Silvanus, a faithful brother unto j'ou, as I suppose, I have written briefiy ') —only shows that in later years he was associated with the author of that Epistle, and assisted him in its production. One passage, when compared with Acts, may be supjiosed to present a difficulty, if it is presumed that Silas and Timothy w^ere inseparable from the time when they parted with Paul at Beroea till they rejoined him at Corinth. 1 Th 3''^ conveys the impression that Timothy had been with Paul in Athens, and had been sent thence to Thessalonica to comfort the Church there and bring news of its condition. It is possible that Timothy paid a visit to Athens which has not been recorded in Acts, but it is un- necessary to infer that Silas accompanied him, and that consequently there is a lacuna in Acts, so far as he is concerned.