The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130

Matthew the Apostle

Also known as Levi

d. c. 74 (trads. diverge) · Apostle · Tax collector · Evangelist by tradition · Capernaum → Judaea & beyond

The Apostolic Fathers

Matthew the Apostle — historical depiction 1
Matthew the ApostleMichelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio · Public domain · Commons
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Matthew the Apostle — historical depiction 1

Matthew the ApostleMichelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio · Public domain · Commons

Who Matthew the Apostle was

Levi the tax-farmer of Capernaum, called from the customs bench (“and he arose, and followed him”), who gave a feast for his old colleagues at which Jesus answered the scandalized: “They that be whole need not a physician.” The first Gospel bears his name by unbroken early ascription, anchored in Papias’s sentence that “Matthew composed the oracles in the Hebrew dialect, and each interpreted them as he was able” — a statement whose exact meaning scholarship still weighs. The mission traditions scatter him from Judaea to “Ethiopia” and Parthia; the martyrologies differ even on whether he died a martyr. The tax-man’s Gospel became the church’s most-quoted book.

Common questions

When did Matthew die?

Matthew the Apostle is dated d. c. 74 (trads. diverge) in the archive, which places Matthew in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

What did Matthew write?

Matthew the Apostle has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The Gospel according to Matthew (traditional ascription).

Which early sources mention Matthew?

Matthew the Apostle is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Papias of Hierapolis, Irenaeus of Lyon and Origen of Alexandria. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Matthew from?

The archive associates Matthew the Apostle with Capernaum, Judaea & beyond. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.

Writings (1)

The Gospel according to Matthew (traditional ascription)

c. 50–70 (trad. dating)
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Read the full text ↗

Scripture record

Primary-source mentions (3)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Papias, via Eusebius III.39

c. AD 130
Matthew composed the oracles in the Hebrew dialect, and each one interpreted them as he was able.
Papias of Hierapolis · III.39 · source text

Against Heresies III.1.1

c. AD 180
Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome.
Irenaeus of Lyon · Against Heresies III.1.1 · source text

Origen, via Ecclesiastical History VI.25 (first of the four)

c. AD 246
First was written that according to Matthew, who was once a publican, but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Origen of Alexandria · Ecclesiastical History VI.25 · source text

Connected in the archive

People

Events in this lifetime

Place

Places served

The 10 places the sources put Matthew, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route. Every stop here is marked with the company: the source places this figure’s company there rather than naming the figure at it.

  1. 1GalileeWith him through the towns of Galileewith the companyMark 1:39; Matthew 4:23
  2. 2NazarethCame into his own country, and his disciples followed himwith the companyMark 6:1
  3. 3CapernaumThe house at Capernaum, where he taught the Twelvewith the companyMark 9:33
  4. 4BethsaidaWithdrew there with the Twelve; the five thousand fedwith the companyLuke 9:10
  5. 5TyreWithdrew into its borders; the disciples came to himwith the companyMark 7:24; Matthew 15:23
  6. 6SidonReturned by Sidon to the sea of Galileewith the companyMark 7:31
  7. 7Caesarea PhilippiOn the road he asked the disciples who men said he waswith the companyMark 8:27
  8. 8JerichoWent out of Jericho with his discipleswith the companyMark 10:46
  9. 9BethanyLodged there with the Twelve through Passion weekwith the companyMark 11:11–12
  10. 10JerusalemEntered the temple with the Twelve; the upper roomwith the companyMark 11:11; 14:17

See these places on the atlas →