macedonia Summary and Overview

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; Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 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 Tim. 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.

(extended land), a large and celebrated country lying north of Greece, the first part of Europe which received the gospel directly from St. Paul, and an important scene of his subsequent missionary labors and those of his companions. It was bounded by the range of Haemus or the Balkan northward, by the chain of Pindus westward, by the Cambunian hills southward, by which it is separated from Thessaly, an is divided on the east from Thrace by a less definite mountain boundary running southward from Haemus. Of the space thus enclosed, two of the most remarkable physical features are two great plains, one watered by the Axius, which comes to the sea, at the Thermaic Gulf, not far from Thessalonica; the other by the Strymon, which after passing near Philippi, flows out below Amphipolis. Between the mouths of these two rivers a remarkable peninsula projects, dividing itself into three points, on the farthest of which Mount Athos rises nearly into the region of perpetual snow. Across the neck of this peninsula St. Paul travelled more than once with his companions. This general sketch sufficiently describes the Macedonia which was ruled over by Philip and Alexander and which the Romans conquered from Perseas. At first the conquered country was divided by Aemilius Paulus into four districts, but afterward was made one province and centralized under the jurisdiction of a proconsul, who resided at Thessalonica. The character of the Christians of Macedonia is set before us in Scripture in a very favorable light. The candor of the Bereans is highly commented, #Ac 17:11| the Thessalonians were evidently objects of St. Paul's peculiar affection, #1Th 2:8,17-20; 3:10| and the Philippians, besides their general freedom from blame, are noted as remarkable for their liberality and self-denial. #Phm 4:10, 14-19| see 2Cor 9:2; 11:9

MACEDO'NIA (extended land), a noted country and kingdom lying north Map of Macedonia. of Greece. The kingdom was founded about b.c. 814, and became famous in the world's history in the time of its great rulers, Philip and Alexander. It was the first part of Europe which received the gospel, and hence its importance in biblical history. Situation and Extent. -- The boundaries of Macedonia varied at different periods, but in N.T. times Macedonia may be described as bounded on the north by the range of Haemus or the Balkan Mountains, separating it from Moesia; on the east by Thrace and the AEgean Sea; on the south by the province of Achaia (Greece); on the west by Epirus and Illyricum, from which it was separated by the Pindus range. Physical Features. -- Macedonia is situated in a great basin nearly surrounded by the mountains and the sea. There are two great plains, one watered by the river Axius, whose mouth is near Thessalonica, and the other by the Strymon, which flows into the AEgean Sea below Amphipolis. Between the mouths of these two rivers projects a peninsula divided into three points, on one of which is Mount Athos, whose peak rises nearly into the region of perpetual snow. Across the neck of this peninsula ran the great road (Via Ignatia) along which Paul and his companions passed. History. -- Macedonia is a name familiar to school-children in connection with King Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great. The third great world-kingdom, the Macedonian empire, received its name from this comparatively little spot. Comp. Dan 8:5-8, 2 Chr 11:21. The Romans conquered the territory from Perseus. It was at first divided into four districts, afterward consolidated into one with its capital at Thessalonica,where the proconsul resided. There are numerous allusions to the Macedonians in the books of the Maccabees. In N.T. history Macedonia holds an important place because of the labors of the apostles. Paul was called there by the vision of the "man of Macedonia," and made a most successful missionary-tour. Acts 16:10; Acts 17:1-12. He visited it again, Acts 20:1-6. and probably for a third time. Comp. 1 Tim 1:3; Phil 2:24. His Epistles to the Thessalonians and Philippians show that the Macedonian Christians exhibited many excellent traits. The details of his work can be studied in connection with the cities of Macedonia visited by him. See Neapolis, Philippi, Apollonia, Thessalonica, Berea. Macedonia has been for many years under the control of the Turks, and is called Makadonia. MACHAE'RUS is not mentioned in the Bible, but is supposed to be the castle in which John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. It is nine miles east of the Dead Sea. Mark 6:21-29.

The first country in Europe where Paul preached the gospel, in obedience to the vision of a man of Macedonia, saying "come over and help us." The Haemus (Balkan) range, separating it from Maesia, is on its N.; the Pindus, separating it from Epirus, on the W.; the Cambunian hills S. separating Macedonia from Thessaly; Thrace and the Aegean sea E. There are two great plains, one watered by the Axius entering the sea near Thessalonica, the other by the Strymon which passes near Philippi and empties itself below Amphipolis. Between lies Mount Athos, across the neck of which Paul often travelled with his companions. Philip (from whom Philippi is named) and Alexander were its most famous kings. When Rome conquered it from Perseus, Aemilius Paulus after the battle of Pydna divided it into Macedonia Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta. Macedonia Prima, the region E. of the Strymon, had Amphipolis as its capital, Macedonia Secunda, the region between the Strymon and Axius, had Thessalonica. Macedonia Tertia, from the Axius to the Peneus, had Pella. Macedonia Quarta, the remainder, had Pelagonia. In New Testament times the whole of Macedonia, Thessaly, and a district along the Adriatic, was made one province under a proconsul at Thessalonica the capital. The great Ignatian Road joined Philippi and Thessalonica, and led toward Illyricum (Romans 15:19). Philippi had supplanted Amphipolis in importance. Mention of Macedonia in this wide sense occurs Acts 16:9-12; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:21-22; Acts 19:29; Acts 20:1-3; Acts 27:2; Romans 15:26; 1 Corinthians 16:5; 2 Corinthians 1:16; 2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 8:1; 2 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 9:4; 2 Corinthians 11:9; Philemon 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; 1 Timothy 1:3 (which last passage proves Paul accomplished the wish expressed in his first imprisonment, Philemon 2:24). Achaia S., Illyricum N.W., and Macedonia comprehended the whole region between the Danube and the southernmost point of the Peloponnese. The Macedonian Christians are highly commended; the Bereans for their readiness in receiving the word, and withal diligence in testing the preached word by the written word (Acts 17:11); the Thessalonians for their "work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus," so that they were "examples" to all others (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:7); the Philippians for their liberal contributions to Paul's sustenance (Philemon 4:10; Philemon 4:14-19; 2 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 11:9). Lydia was the first European convert, and women were Paul's first congregation (Acts 16:13-14); so the female element is prominent at Philippi in the epistle to the Philippians as working for Christ (Philemon 4:2-3). How Christianity, starting from that beginning, has since elevated woman socially throughout Europe!