Note 1 at Ac 16:9: Macedonia was the country north of Achaia (see note 11 at Ac 18:12). It occupied the northeastern part of what we know today as Greece. Its principal cities were Neapolis (see note 5 at Ac 16:11), Philippi (see note 6 at Ac 16:12), Amphipolis (see note 1 at Ac 17:1), Apollonia (see note 2 at Ac 17:1), Thessalonica (see note 3 at Ac 17:1), and Berea (see note 1 at Ac 17:10).

The first importance of the country of Macedon came in 359 B.C. when Philip II of Macedon began to expand its borders through conquest. His son, Alexander the Great (ruling from 336 to 323 B.C.), made Macedon, or Greece, the worldwide power that was prophesied in Da 8:5, 8, and 21-23.

Paul took the Gospel to Macedonia on his second missionary journey (Ac 15:40-19:22) and also passed through this area at least twice on his third missionary trip (Ac 20:1 and 3). Gaius, Aristarchus, Sopater, and Secundus--Paul's companions--were Macedonians (Ac 19:29 and 20:4).