Macedonia Bible Quotes

Acts 16:9 is the meddler's motto, simultaneously selfless and self-serving, generous but stuck-up. Into every generation of Americans is born a new crop of buttinskys sniffing out the latest Macedonia that may or may not want their help.

But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you: for ye are taught of God to love one another. 10 Yea, and that thing verily ye do unto all the brethren, which are throughout all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more, 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 That ye may behave yourselves honestly toward them that are without, and that nothing be lacking unto you. 13 ¶ I would not, brethren, have you ignorant concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as other which have no hope.

indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, 11to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you; * 12so that you may command the respect of outsiders, and be dependent on nobody.

As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus, when I departed into Macedonia, so do, that thou mayest command some, that they teach none other doctrine, 4 Neither that they give heed to fables and genealogies which are endless, which breed questions rather than godly edifying which is by faith. 5 For the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.

5. Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Thessalonica to protect the believers and traveled west for two days to Berea (Acts 17:10). But Jews from Thessalonica followed the apostle to Berea and forced him to leave town. Some believers escorted Paul to Athens, likely by sea. 6. Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Athens a short time later only to be sent back to Macedonia: Timothy to Thessalonica (3:1–5) and Silas possibly to Philippi. Paul tried but was prevented from revisiting Thessalonica (2:17–18).

Luke does not at this point give many details about the travels of Silas and Timothy, but Paul gives more information in 1 Thessalonians 3, and Luke gives more details at Acts 18:1, 5. These passages reveal the following sequence: (1) Paul traveled to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy in Berea (17:14–15). (2) Paul summoned Silas and Timothy to join him in Athens (v. 15). (3) Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Athens (v. 16; 1 Thess. 3:1–2). (4) Paul became concerned for the churches he had just founded in Macedonia (in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea), so he sent Timothy to Thessalonica to find out how that church was doing amid its persecution and opposition (1 Thess. 3:1–2). At the same time he must have sent Silas somewhere else in Macedonia (Acts 18:5), being willing to be left at Athens “alone” (1 Thess. 3:1). It is likely that Silas went at least to Philippi but possibly also to Berea. (5) Paul “left Athens and went to Corinth” (Acts 18:1). (6) Silas and Timothy joined Paul again in Corinth, bringing good news from the churches of Macedonia (18:5; 1 Thess. 3:6). (7) From Corinth, Paul wrote his two letters to the church at Thessalonica (1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; both of these letters come from “Paul, Silvanus [= Silas], and Timothy”).

Longtime Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke summarizes the biblical evidence well: Any time you take the Bible out of context you destroy the intent of God’s Word. That’s why you cannot take instances of special revelation and make them normative for the Christian experience. . . . When he [Paul] did experience a special revelation, seeing a vision of a man calling him to Macedonia, he obeyed. But the special revelation of God was a rare and unique experience, even for Paul. . . . We cannot take special circumstances and make them the norm by which we live our lives. Special revelation for guidance was not the normal apostolic experience. And at the time it was received (by Paul, by Philip, by Peter as he lay on his roof) it was not being sought. . . . Special revelation came at a time when God wanted to lead them apart from the normal ways in which His people make choices.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 ¶ Notwithstanding, ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 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.

We want you to know, brothers, [1] about the grace of God that has been  hgiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and  itheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave  jaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,

1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and †their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,