Matthew the Apostle

Lore & Background

Matthew is mentioned in Matthew 9:9 and Matthew 10:3 as a tax collector who, while sitting at the 'receipt of custom' in Capernaum, was called to follow Jesus. He is also listed among the Twelve Disciples in Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, and Acts 1:13. In passages parallel to Matthew 9:9, both Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27 describe Jesus's calling of the tax collector Levi, the son of Alphaeus, and since the father of both Matthew (known as Levi) and James, son of Alphaeus is named Alphaeus, according to the tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church the two apostles were brothers. After Jesus' ascension, the disciples withdrew to an upper room in Jerusalem. Church Fathers such as Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria relate that Matthew preached the gospel in Judea before going to other countries. Ancient writers are not in agreement as to which other countries these are, but almost all sources mention Ethiopia, likely the region south of the Caspian Sea. The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church each hold the tradition that Matthew died as a martyr, and the Babylonian Talmud appears to report his execution. According to some traditions, while preaching in Ethiopia, Matthew converted Ephigenia of Ethiopia, the virgin daughter of King Egippus, and was later killed by order of King Hirtacus.

Reader's Guide

Matthew the Apostle holds a central place in Christian tradition as both an eyewitness to Jesus's ministry and the traditional author of the Gospel of Matthew, which is one of the three synoptic gospels and contains the complete Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. Early Church tradition, first attested by Papias of Hierapolis and cited by Eusebius, holds that Matthew collected the sayings of Jesus in the Hebrew language, though most modern scholars hold that the Gospel of Matthew was written anonymously. The superscription 'according to Matthew' was added sometime in the second century. Matthew's role as a tax collector before his calling highlights a theme of transformation and inclusion in the early Christian narrative. His veneration spans multiple Christian denominations, and his feast day on September 21 is widely observed. In art, he is often depicted with a winged man, one of the four living creatures of Revelation. Beyond Christianity, Matthew is recognized in Muslim exegesis as a disciple of Jesus and in Druze tradition as a prophet, reflecting his broad religious significance.

Did You Know?

• Matthew is also known as Levi, the son of Alphaeus, in Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27.
• The Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a) lists 'Mattai' as one of five disciples of 'Jeshu' and appears to report his execution.
• According to some traditions, Matthew converted Ephigenia of Ethiopia, the virgin daughter of King Egippus, and was martyred after rebuking King Hirtacus.
• In Druze tradition, Matthew the Apostle is honored as a prophet, and he is grouped with Jesus, John the Baptist, Mark, and Luke as one of five great prophets of the first century.