Matthew the Evangelist

Biografia

Matthew, originally named Levi, was a Jewish tax collector working for the Roman occupiers in Capernaum when Jesus called him to discipleship. His career collecting taxes made him despised by fellow Jews, yet Jesus chose him as an apostle, demonstrating radical acceptance and redemption. Matthew abandoned his lucrative position to follow Christ, later becoming one of the Twelve Apostles. He authored the Gospel bearing his name, written primarily for Jewish Christians to demonstrate Jesus as the promised Messiah through fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. According to tradition, Matthew preached the Gospel in various regions including Judea, Ethiopia, and Persia. He is believed to have been martyred for his faith, though accounts vary regarding the location and manner of his death. His transformation from despised tax collector to revered evangelist symbolizes the power of grace and conversion.