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Matthew the Apostle — the tax collector

A tax collector at Capernaum, also called Levi, whom Jesus called from his booth with the words 'follow me.' Tradition credits him with the first Gospel, written for a Jewish-Christian audience and rich in Old Testament fulfilment.

Role: Apostle · Evangelist

Also known as: Levi

Lived: c. AD 5 – c. AD 74

Belonged to: The Twelve Apostles, Israelites (Hebrews), Evangelists

Born: Capernaum

Death: Traditionally martyred; place uncertain

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2 Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 2 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1

Origin & birthplace

BibleA tax collector called by Jesus from his booth at Capernaum.

Matthew 9:9

↳ Capernaum

Family & lineage

BibleAlso named Levi, son of Alphaeus.

Mark 2:14

Life, role & deeds

Desconocido — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) Ancient writersPapias, writing about AD 110, records that 'Matthew compiled the sayings in the Hebrew tongue, and each interpreted them as best he could' — the earliest external notice tying the apostle to a written gospel.

Papias of Hierapolis, Exposition of the Lord's Oracles (Logiōn Kyriakōn Exēgēsis), c. AD 110 — lost work preserved in Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 3.39.16

Exanx777 — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) Ancient writersIrenaeus, about AD 180, reports that Matthew 'issued a gospel among the Hebrews in their own language' while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome.

Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies) 3.1.1, c. AD 180; the passage is also preserved in Greek in Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 5.8.2

Death & legacy

ScholarlyThe later accounts of Matthew's mission and death — set variously in Ethiopia, Persia or Parthia — are late and contradictory, and no reliable record of his end survives.

Medieval martyrologies; regarded as legendary

Where in scripture

Matthew Mark

As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
Matthew 9:9 — Called from the tax booth

Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;
Matthew 10:3 — Listed among the Twelve

As he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him.
Mark 2:14 — Levi son of Alphaeus

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Matthew 9:9 Matthew 10:3 Mark 2:14