Jonah and Silas as Prophets in Acts

The New Testament book of Acts mentions Silas as a prophet, while the Old Testament figure Jonah is identified as a prophet in 2 Kings and in the book bearing his name.

Silas, also known as Silvanus in Paul's epistles, was a prominent member of the early Christian church in Jerusalem ^[5]. He is first introduced in Acts 15:22 as one of the "chief men among the brethren" chosen to accompany Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with the Jerusalem Council's decree ^{[5, 9, 10]}. Acts 15:32 explicitly states that "Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them" ^[1]. Commentators interpret "prophets" in this context as inspired teachers who could explain the Scriptures and edify the church ^{[6, 7, 8]}. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, suggests that prophets were not only those who foretold the future but also those "who were able to explain the prophecies of the Old Testament, give the true sense of the Scriptures, and open them to the edification of others" ^[8]. Similarly, Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, defines "prophet" here as a "teacher in the Church" ^[6]. Silas later became Paul's companion on his second missionary journey ^{[5, 9]}.

Jonah, whose name means "a dove," was a prophet of Israel, son of Amittai of Gath-hepher ^{[2, 4]}. He is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25, where he predicted the restoration of Israel's ancient boundaries ^{[2, 3]}. Jonah ministered during the reign of Jeroboam II, possibly preceding Hosea and Amos, making him potentially the earliest of the writing prophets ^{[2, 4]}. His personal history is detailed in the Book of Jonah, which recounts his reluctance to prophesy to Nineveh, a hostile city, and his attempt to flee to Tarshish ^[4]. Augustine, a patristic writer, references Jonah in his discussions of Old Testament prophets who foretold aspects of the New Testament ^{[11, 12]}. Some Jewish traditions identify Jonah as the "child of the prophets" mentioned in 2 Kings 9:1 ^[13]. Despite the Pharisees' claim in John 7:49 that "out of Galilee ariseth no prophet," Jonah was indeed from Gath-hepher in Galilee ^[14].

Sources

Acts “Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them. -- Acts 15:32”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jonah — A dove, the son of Amittai of Gath-hepher. He was a prophet of Israel, and predicted the restoration of the ancient boundaries (2 Kings 14:25-27) of the kingdom. He exercised his ministry very early in the reign of Jeroboam II., and thus was contemporary with Hosea and Amos; or possibly he preceded them, and consequently may have been the very oldest of all the prophets whose writings we possess. His personal history is mainly to be gathered from the book which bears his name. It is chiefly interesting from the two-fold character in which he appears, (1) as a”
STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3124 — Prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.14.25; <br>referred to as )”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jonah — (dove), the fifth of the minor prophets, was the son of Amittai, and a native of Gath-hepher. (2 Kings 14:25) He flourished in or before the reign of Jeroboam II., about B.C. 820. Having already, as it seems, prophesied to Israel, he was sent to Nineveh. The time was one of political revival in Israel; but ere long the Assyrians were to be employed by God as a scourge upon them. The prophet shrank from a commission which he felt sure would result, (Jonah 4:2) in the sparing of a hostile city. He attempted therefore to escape to Tarshish. The providence of God,”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Silas — (contracted form of Silvanus, woody), an eminent member of the early Christian Church, described under that name in the Acts but as Silvanus in St. Paul's epistles. He first appears as one of the leaders of the church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:22) holding the office of an inspired teacher. (Acts 15:32) His name, derived from the Latin silva, "wood," betokens him a Hellenistic Jew, and he appears to have been a Roman citizen. (Acts 16:37) He was appointed as a delegate to accompany Paul and Barnabas on their return to Antioch with the decree of the Council of Jerus”
Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 15:32: Judas and Silas, being prophets - That is, being teachers in the Church. This signification of the word prophet we have often already seen. See the notes on Act 11:27; Act 13:1. Exhorted the brethren - To abide steadily attached to God, and to each other, in peace, love, and unity. And confirmed them - In the blessed truths they had already received.”
Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 15:32: Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves--that is, inspired teachers. exhorted the brethren with many words--"much discourse." and confirmed them--opening up, no doubt, the great principle involved in the controversy now settled, of gratuitous salvation, or the purification of the heart by faith alone (as expressed by Peter, Act 15:9, Act 15:11), and dwelling on the necessity of harmony in principle and affection between the Gentile disciples and their Jewish brethren.”
Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 15:32: And Judas and Silas being also prophets themselves,.... As well as Paul and Barnabas, and others, that were at Antioch; see Act 13:1 and by prophets are meant, not only such who had the gift of foretelling things to come; though such there were, and these might have that gift; but such who were able to explain the prophecies of the Old Testament, give the true sense of the Scriptures, and open them to the edification of others; wherefore having such gifts, they made use of them; Beza's ancient copy adds, "full of the Holy Ghost": and exhorted the brethren with many w”
Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 15:22: Judas surnamed Barsabas--therefore not the apostle "Judas the brother of James" (Act 1:13), surnamed "Thaddeus" (Mat 10:3); nor can it be shown that he was a brother of "Joseph called Barsabas" (Act 1:23). But nothing is known of him beyond what is here said. and Silas--the same as "Silvanus" in the Epistles. He became Paul's companion on his second missionary journey (Act 15:40). chief men among the brethren--selected purposely as such, to express the honor in which they held the church at Antioch, and the deputies they had sent to the council, and”
Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 15:27: We have sent therefore Judas and Silas,.... The chosen men before mentioned, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth; as are written in these letters; which would both confirm and explain things unto them.”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 30--WHAT MICAH, JONAH, AND JOEL PROPHESIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT. (part 1): The prophet Micah, representing Christ under the figure of a great mountain, speaks thus: "It shall come to pass in the last days, that the manifested mountain of the Lord shall be prepared on the tops of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall hasten unto it. Many nations shall go, and shall say, Come, let us go up into the mountain of the Lord, and into the house of the God of Jacob; and He will show us Hi”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 27.--OF THE TIMES OF THE PROPHETS WHOSE ORACLES ARE CONTAINED IN BOOKS AND WHO SANG MANY THINGS ABOUT THE CALL OF THE GENTILES AT THE TIME WHEN THE ROMAN KINGDOM BEGAN AND THE ASSYRIAN CAME TO A (part 1): In order that we may be able to consider these times, let us go back a little to earlier times. At the beginning of the book of the prophet Hosea, who is placed first of twelve, it is written, "The word of the Lord which came to Hoses in the days of Uzziah, Jothan, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah."(1) Amos also writes that he”
2 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Kings 9:1: One of the children of the prophets - The Jews say that this was Jonah the prophet, the son of Amittai. Gird up thy loins - What thou hast to do requires the utmost despatch.”
John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 7:49: They answered and said unto him,.... Being displeased with him, and as reproaching him, though they could not deny, or refute what he said: art thou also of Galilee? a follower of Jesus of Galilee, whom, by way of contempt, they called the Galilean, and his followers Galilaeans, as Julian the apostate after them did; for otherwise they knew that Nicodemus was not of the country of Galilee; search and look; into the histories of former times, and especially the Scriptures: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet; but this is false, for Jonah the prophet was of Gathhe”

Ask Your Own Question