Who was the apostle Matthew?
Quick answer
Matthew (also called Levi) was a Jewish tax collector — a despised collaborator with Rome — whom Jesus called from his tax booth with two words: "Follow me." He left it all immediately and authored the Gospel of Matthew.
Tax collectors were considered traitors and cheats. Jesus called one anyway and dined with him.
Matthew threw a great feast for Jesus, inviting his fellow tax collectors and sinners — the church’s first witness through a meal.
His Gospel was written for Jewish readers, showing Jesus as the long-promised Messiah and King — quoted OT prophecy more than any other Gospel.
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.