Macedonia

Macedonia in New Testament times, was a Roman province lying north of Greece. It was governed by a propraetor with the title of proconsul. Paul was summoned by the vision of the “man of Macedonia” to preach the gospel there (Acts 16=>9). Frequent allusion is made to this event (18=>5; 19=>21; Romans 15=>26; 2 Corinthians 1=>16; 11=>9; Phil. 4=>15). The history of Paul’s first journey through Macedonia is given in detail in Acts 16=>10-17=>15. At the close of this journey he returned from Corinth to Syria. He again passed through this country (20=>1-6), although the details of the route are not given. After many years he probably visited it for a third time (Phil. 2=>24; 1 Timothy 1=>3). The first convert made by Paul in Europe was (Acts 16=>13-15) Lydia (q.v.), a “seller of purple,” residing in Philippi, the chief city of the eastern division of Macedonia.