Bible Figure
Matthew the Evangelist
Matthew was a tax collector called by Jesus to become one of the Twelve and is traditionally identified with Levi and with the evangelist associated with the Gospel of Matthew. This record overlaps the AVWJ Matthew apostle entry.
Biography
Matthew's Gospel describes Jesus seeing a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth and commanding him to follow. Matthew rose and followed Him. The apostolic list later calls him 'Matthew the tax collector.' Mark and Luke narrate a closely parallel call of a tax collector named Levi, producing the longstanding identification of Matthew and Levi, though the text never explicitly says that the two names belong to the same person. Matthew remained among the Twelve and is listed with the apostolic group in Acts. Early Christian tradition associates the First Gospel with Matthew, although the Gospel itself does not name its author within the text.
Biblical Significance
Matthew's call displays Jesus' willingness to draw a socially despised tax collector into the apostolic circle. The Gospel traditionally associated with him presents Jesus as Israel's Messiah and repeatedly emphasizes fulfillment of Scripture.