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](/acts#Acts.16.9)). Frequent allusion is made to this event (18:5; 19:21; [Rom. 15:26](/rom#Rom.15.26); [2 Cor. 1:16](/2cor#2Cor.1.16); [11:9](/2cor#2Cor.11.9); [Phil. 4:15](/phil#Phil.4.15)). The history of Paul’s first journey through Macedonia is given in detail in [Acts 16:10-17:15](/acts#Acts.16.10). 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](/phil#Phil.2.24); [1 Tim. 1:3](/1tim#1Tim.1.3)). The first convert made by Paul in Europe was ([Acts 16:13-15](/acts#Acts.16.13)) Lydia (q.v.), a “seller of purple,” residing in Philippi, the chief city of the eastern division of Macedonia.