40but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Verses 40-41 launch the second missionary journey.
15:40
but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
Paul chose a new team member called Silas to go with him on his second missionary trip. The church at Antioch of Syria agreed with the choice of Silas, showing that a local church backed their mission.
The epistles refer to Silas by the name Sylvanus. He was one of the official representatives from the Jerusalem church who took the decree of the Jerusalem Council to Antioch. Silas was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37) and a prophet (Acts 15:32). He, with Paul, was “commended” or commissioned by the church at Antioch “to the grace of God” in their mission.
15:41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Paul and Silas went to the provinces of Syria (including the city of Antioch) and Cilicia, Paul’s home area. They traveled to Derbe and Lystra through the “Cilician Gates” on their way to Galatia. The time of his second journey was AD 49-51.
Later, on the second journey, Paul added Timothy (Acts 16:3) and Luke (Acts 16:10) to the team, the author of the gospel of Luke and Acts. The mission trip took about three years (AD 49-51).
PRINCIPLE:
God can make the wrath of man praise Him.
APPLICATION:
Silas, later called Silvanus by Paul, became an outstanding leader for the cause of Christ. Acts 15:22, 32 calls him a “leader” and a “prophet.” He was the amanuensis of the Thessalonian epistles. He was a Roman citizen, making him profitable for ministering in the Roman Empire (Acts 16:37). Silas became Paul’s new partner in the mission. God changes His workers but keeps His work moving on. He makes the wrath of men praise Him (Ps 76:10). Now, there are two mission teams rather than one.
