Matthew – Gift of God, a common Jewish name after the Exile. He was the son of Alphaeus, and was a publican or tax-gatherer at Capernaum.
On one occasion Jesus, coming up from the side of the lake, passed the custom-house where Matthew was seated, and said to him, "Follow me." Matthew arose and followed him, and became his disciple Mt 9:9 Formerly the name by which he was known was Levi Mr 2:14 Lu 5:27 he now changed it, possibly in grateful memory of his call, to Matthew. The same day on which Jesus called him he made a "great feast" Lu 5:29 a farewell feast, to which he invited Jesus and his disciples, and probably also many of old associates. He was afterwards selected as one of the twelve Lu 6:15
His name does not occur again in the Gospel history except in the lists of the apostles. The last notice of him is in Ac 1:13 The time and manner of his death are unknown.