1. Matthew from Hebrew = Mattithyah, meaning, "gift of Jehovah." 2. Also called Levi = a publican, or tax-gatherer. ( Mt.10:3; Lk.5:27-29) 3. Possible brother to other disciple, James, son of Alphaeus. (Compare Mk.2:14; Mt.10:3; Mk.3:18; Lk.6:15; Acts 1:13.) 4. First called as a disciple ( Lk.5:27); later appointed an Apostle. ( Mt.10:3) 5. Gave Jesus a great feast, provoking the criticism of the Pharisees. ( Lk.5:29-30) By his call, others of similar stations in life saw the compassion in Jesus, and they too were attracted to Him in numbers. 6. Tax-gathers were banned from Jewish worship and serving in official civic duties, hence the Pharisees' disdain for Jesus who defiled Himself with His contact with Matthew. (See also Lk.18:13 for further insight and example of the publican's position.) 7. His home likely Capernaum, by Galilee ( Mk.2:13-14), thus a Galilean Jew. Possibly highly Hellenistic. 8. Probable author of the first gospel (MARK probably predates his), with tradition having it penned in Hebrew. The first of only two disciples who wrote an account of the life of Christ, Matthew's, A.D. 40-58?; and John's, A.D. 85? 9. He was with Jesus until the end, scattered, and probably present at first appearance ( Jn.20:19) and ascension. ( Acts 1:10) 10. Named specifically in fellowship awaiting Pentecost. ( Acts 1:13) No further mention by name. 11. Tradition has him first declaring the gospel among the Jews to whom he wrote his gospel. 12. Many legends exist of Matthew's extra-Biblical life, some totally unbelievable. Talmudic tradition reveals him condemned to die by the Sanhedrin, with many absurd attempts on his life. (At the hands of cannibals; burned in flammables, etc.) 13. Whatever his end, his beginnings as an outcast was indicative of those to whom Jesus came to redeem and would forever be changed.