Who is…
Matthew the Apostle

also known as: Levi

Greek: Ματθαῖος —transliteration: Matthaios —meaning: gift of Yahweh —occurrences: 5 (Matthew 9:9; 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13)

This was a common Jewish name after the Exile.

The Biblical Matthew was the son of Alphaeus, and was a tax-gatherer/collector (aka a publican) at Capernaum, where he was probably born.

On one occasion Jesus, coming up from the side of the lake, passed the custom-house where Matthew/Levi was seated, and said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew arose and followed him, and became His disciple (Matthew 9:9).

Formerly the name by which he was known was Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he now changed it, possibly in grateful memory of his call, to Matthew. The same day on which Jesus called him he made a “great feast” (Luke 5:29), a farewell feast, to which he invited Jesus and his disciples, and many of his old associates (tax collectors and others).

He was afterwards selected as one of the twelve (Luke 6:15). He walked and talked with Christ and was an eye witness of His ministry. He also saw Christ after He arose from the dead.

His name does not occur again in the Gospels history except in the lists of the Apostles. The last mention of him is in Acts.

And when they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. —Acts 1:13

Two early Church Fathers (Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria) say that Matthew preached the Gospel in Judea before later going to other regions. The time and manner of his death are unknown.

Matthew wrote the Gospel According to Matthew, which is confirmed by early Church Fathers Papias of Hierapolis (60–163 AD) and Origen. It is believed that he wrote the original manuscript in Hebrew in or around Jerusalem. It was then translated into Greek for sharing with a wider audience. It is said that the Library of Caesarea kept the Hebrew original, where was later transcribed by Jerome of Stridon (aka St. Jerome), a mid-4th century Christian theologian, translator, historian and counselor.

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Article Version: March 4, 2025