Origins & Early Life

Matthew the Apostle was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. According to many Christian traditions, he was also one of the four Evangelists as author of the Gospel of Matthew, and thus is also known as Matthew the Evangelist. The gospel, one of the three synoptics, contains the complete Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. The New Testament records that as an Apostle, he followed Jesus.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Church Fathers, such as Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria, relate that Matthew preached the gospel in Judea before going to other countries. Matthew is mentioned in Matthew 9:9 and Matthew 10:3 as a tax collector (in the New International Version and other translations of the Bible) who, while sitting at the "receipt of custom" in Capernaum, was called to follow Jesus. He is also listed among the Twelve Disciples, but without identification of his background, in Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13. In passages parallel to Matthew 9:9, both Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27 describe Jesus's calling of the tax collector Levi, the son of Alphaeus. They do not associate it with the name Matthew, but all three passages are remarkably similar.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Since the father of both Matthew (known as...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Hero of Alexandria — Contemporary (Born in 10) (10): Pioneering Hellenistic mathematician and engineer known for mechanical inventions.
• Jude the Apostle — Contemporary (Born in 10) (10): A foundational Apostle in the New Testament, variously known as Thaddeus or Judas of James.
• Pope Linus — Contemporary (Born in 10) (10): Second Bishop of Rome, succeeding Saint Peter, active from c. 68 to c. 80 AD.
• Vespasian — Contemporary figure (Born in 9) (9): Founder of the Flavian Dynasty, stabilizing Rome after civil wars.
• John the Apostle — Contemporary figure (Born in 11) (11): A foundational Apostle of Jesus, author of the Gospel of John and Revelation.
• Caligula — Contemporary figure (Born in 12) (12): Third Roman Emperor, known for his tumultuous and short reign (AD 37-41).
• Mark the Evangelist — Contemporary figure (Born in 12) (12): A foundational early Christian figure, traditionally credited with the Gospel of Mark.
• Augustus — Contemporary figure (Died in 14) (14): Founder of the Roman Empire and the first Roman Emperor, ushering in the Pax Romana.
• Paul the Apostle — Contemporary figure (Born in 5) (5): A foundational Apostle who spread Christianity from Judaism to the Gentile world.
• Philip the Apostle — Contemporary figure (Born in 5) (5): One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, originating from Bethsaida.
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