Meaning of MACEDONIA

Country located north of Greece.
We have little data about this region before 560 BC. C. and the two previous centuries do not present anything of interest. However, this country became extremely important under Philip of Macedonia (359-336 BC) and especially under the reign of his son Alexander the Great (336-323 BC).

Alexander's generals divided up his empire and Macedonia fell into decline. In the year 168 B.C. the Romans took possession of it; In the year 142 it became a "Roman province." The name of Macedonia does not appear in the OT, but an allusion is made to the Greek empire, founded by its king, in Dn. 2:39; 7:6; 8:5, 8.

During his second missionary journey, Paul saw in a dream a Macedonian who begged him to announce the Gospel in his country. The apostle went there; preaching the gospel for the first time in Europe, he passed through Neapolis, Philippi, Amphipolis, Thessalonica, Berea (Acts 16:9-17:14).

When Paul left these places, Silas and Timothy continued his work (Acts 17:14, 15; 18:5). Later, Paul visited the same regions again (Acts 19:21, 22; 20:1-3, cf. 2 Cor. 2:13; 7:5; 1 Tim. 1:3).
The Macedonians Gaius and Aristarchus, then companions of Paul, were in danger from him during the riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:29).

Second, also a Macedonian, he was one of those who helped the apostle in Troas, making a last visit to Philippi, from where he embarked to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20: 4).

Paul's Macedonian converts gave him money for needy Christians in the Jewish capital (Rom. 15:26). They were extremely generous toward Paul himself (2 Cor. 8:1-5), especially those in Philippi (Phil. 4:15).