Matthew: Gift of God, a common Jewish name after the Exile. He was the son of
Alphaeus, and was a publican or tax-gatherer at Capernaum. On one
occasion Jesus, coming up from the side of the lake, passed the
custom-house where Matthew 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 probably also many of old associates. He was afterwards
selected as one of the twelve
(Luke 6:15) His name does not occur
again in the Gospel history except in the lists of the apostles. The
last notice of him is in
(Acts 1:13) The time and manner of his death
are unknown.
