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 co. 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.