Matthew

Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector in Capernaum before his encounter with Jesus. He was called by Christ to follow Him and became one of the Twelve Apostles. Christian tradition attributes to him the authorship of the first of the four canonical Gospels, the Gospel according to Matthew, which emphasizes Jesus as the promised Messiah to the Jews and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. After Pentecost, tradition holds that he preached the Gospel, first in Judea, then in other regions such as Ethiopia or Persia, where he is believed to have suffered martyrdom. He is venerated as a saint and martyr in most Christian traditions.