A “chief man” among the brethren and a prophet. He was sent to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, after the council of the church at Jerusalem concerning Gentiles keeping the law. He accompanied Paul in his second missionary journey, and was imprisoned with him at Philippi (Acts 15:22-40; Acts 16:19-25,29; Acts 17:4-15; Acts 18:5). The name is an abbreviation of SILVANUS.