1 Peter 5:12-13
5:12 a with the help of: This phrase identifies Silas as the amanuensis, the person who wrote the words as Peter directed.• Silas (Greek Silvanus): Silas is the shortened form of Silvanus; both names refer to the same individual. Silas was Paul’s constant colleague after the time of the council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:40 b; 16:19 c; 17:10 d, 14-15 e; 18:5 f; 2 Cor 1:19 g; 1 Thes 1:1 h; 2 Thes 1:1 i). We are not sure how Silas ended up with Peter in Rome, but he may have traveled with or followed Paul (Acts 27:1–28:31 j).
5:13 k Babylon was probably symbolic for Rome. Like Rome, Babylon was a great city, the capital of an empire. Babylon held sway over much of the ancient Near East in the 500s BC. As a great city and the capital of the empire that burned Jerusalem and took many captive Israelites back to the city, Babylon was regarded as the power center of a world hostile to God’s people. For this reason, the book of Revelation uses “Babylon” as a metaphor or code word for Rome. Peter probably also used the title in the same way.
• Mark, also called John Mark, was another co-worker of the apostle Paul. Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark, which is generally thought to be based on Peter’s teachings.
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