Portal:Saints/Selected biography/November 2007

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St. Matthew inspired by an angel as painted by Rembrandt.
St. Matthew inspired by an angel as painted by Rembrandt.

Matthew the Evangelist (מתי, "Gift of the LORD", Standard Hebrew and Tiberian Hebrew: Mattay; Septuagint Greek: Ματθαίος, Matthaios), most often called Saint Matthew, is an important Christian figure, and one of Jesus' Twelve Apostles.

The proper name and title of Matthew the Evangelist is debated. The gospel accounts discuss a man named Matthew only five times, and the first occurrence of his name is found in Matthew 9:9. It is possible that James, son of Alphaeus, had been distinguished from James, son of Zebedee by the former's other name "Levi" and that James, son of Alphaeus was called to the Apostolate along with Matthew. Believers of this interpretation point to the fact that both Mark and Luke call him simply "Matthew" in their lists of the Apostles [1] [2], as does Matthew himself [3]. However, the Catholic Encyclopedia asserts that Matthew once could have been called "Levi", according to Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27. The Encyclopedia also states that "The fact of one man having two names is of frequent occurrence among the Jews." Other gospel passages that refer to Matthew or Levi are Mark 2:1-22 and Luke 5:27-39.