region

Macedonia

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History

Macedonia is the land north of Greece around the Thermaic Gulf and the lower Axios (Vardar), Strymon and Nestos, ringed by mountains, with the old royal seat at Aegae (Vergina) and the later capital at Pella. The Macedonians spoke a Greek dialect and worshipped the Greek gods, though southern Greeks often counted them as half-barbarian. Philip II (359–336 BC) united them, took the gold mines of Mount Pangaeum and founded Philippi, and at Chaeronea in 338 made himself master of Greece. His son Alexander crossed into Asia in 334 and in a decade overthrew the Persian empire; the rough goat of Daniel, whose "great horn" is "the first king" of Greece, is read as a figure of him, and the first book of Maccabees opens with Alexander of Macedon.

After Alexander's death his generals fought over the kingdom; the Antigonids held Macedonia from 276 BC until Rome defeated Philip V at Cynoscephalae in 197 and his son Perseus at Pydna in 168 BC. The Romans first split the land into four republics and in 146 BC, after the revolt of Andriscus, made it the province of Macedonia with its seat at Thessalonica. The Via Egnatia, built soon after, ran from the Adriatic through Thessalonica and Philippi eastward to Cypsela on the Hebrus in Thrace. In 42 BC Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius at Philippi, and in 27 BC Augustus made Macedonia a senatorial province under a proconsul.

At Troas Paul saw in the night "a man of Macedonia" who prayed him, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us", and he sailed with Silas, Timothy and Luke to Neapolis, about AD 49 or 50. At Philippi Lydia believed and the jailer was baptised; at Thessalonica and Berea the synagogues were divided; from Berea Paul was sent on to Athens. The Macedonian churches became his support: the Philippians alone sent him help when he "departed from Macedonia", the brethren from Macedonia supplied his wants at Corinth, and in "a great trial of affliction" and "deep poverty" the churches of Macedonia gave beyond their power for the saints in Jerusalem. Paul passed through Macedonia again on his way to Greece and back, and Aristarchus of Thessalonica sailed with him to Rome.

The Thessalonians and Philippians received the earliest and the warmest of Paul's letters. Thessalonica remained the capital of Macedonia and became the second city of the Byzantine empire. The ancient land is today divided between the Greek region of Macedonia, with Thessaloniki, Vergina, Pella and Philippi, the Republic of North Macedonia, which took that name by the Prespa agreement of 2018, and south-western Bulgaria.

Scripture: Dan 8:21; Dan 11:3–4; Acts 16:9–12; Acts 17:1; Acts 17:10; Acts 17:15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:21–22; Acts 20:1–3; Acts 27:2; Rom 15:26; 1 Cor 16:5; 2 Cor 1:16; 2 Cor 2:13; 2 Cor 7:5; 2 Cor 8:1–5; 2 Cor 9:2–4; 2 Cor 11:9; Phil 4:15; 1 Thess 1:7–8; 1 Thess 4:10; 1 Tim 1:3

Checked against its sources; not yet read by a historian.

Verses (24)

Acts 16:9

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

Acts 16:10

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Acts 16:12

And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

Acts 18:5

And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

Acts 19:21

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

Acts 19:22

So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

Acts 19:29

And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

Acts 20:1

And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

Acts 20:3

And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

Acts 20:6

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

Rom 15:26

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

1 Cor 16:5

Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

2 Cor 1:16

And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

2 Cor 2:13

I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

2 Cor 7:5

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

2 Cor 8:1

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2 Cor 9:2

For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

2 Cor 9:4

Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

2 Cor 11:9

And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

Phil 4:15

Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

1 Thess 1:7

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

1 Thess 1:8

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

1 Thess 4:10

And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

1 Tim 1:3

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

King James Version