Matthew is recorded as one of Jesus' original disciples in all four gospels and in Acts. In the gospel of Matthew he is described as a tax collector; in parallel accounts, however, the tax collector Jesus encounters is named "Levi." Christians have traditionally thought that this was an example of a double naming.
Christian tradition has generally taught that the Gospel According to Matthew was written by Matthew the apostle, but modern scholarship had discredited this. The gospel text displays enough sophistication in terms of theology and Greek that it is most likely the product of a second-generation Christian, probably a convert from Judaism.
Not much information about Matthew the apostle is contained in the gospels and his importance for early Christianity is dubious. The author of the Gospel According to Matthew, however, has had a great deal of importance for the development of Christianity. The author relied heavily on Mark's gospel and also drew from some independent traditions not found elsewhere.
Some Christian legends say that Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia, others that he was martyred in Parthia. There is no evidence for the truth of any of these traditions or even that Matthew would have been martyred at all anywhere.
Read More: Saint Matthew the Apostle
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