Difference between revisions of "Matthew"

<p> '''Matthew''' (''măth'thu'' ). Derived from the same word as Matthias, &nbsp;Acts 1:23; &nbsp;Acts 1:26 (''gift of God),'' apostle, and author of the first gospel. His original name was Levi, &nbsp;Mark 2:14; &nbsp;Luke 5:27; &nbsp;Luke 5:29, which, like that of Simon and of Saul, was changed on his being called to the apostleship. He first appears in the gospels as a publican or tax-gatherer near the Sea of Galilee, and the last mention of him is in the list of those who met in the upper room at Jerusalem after the ascension of our Lord. &nbsp;Acts 1:13. The tradition of his martyrdom in Ethiopia is not very trustworthy. </p> <p> The Gospel according to Matthew was probably written in Palestine, and for Jewish Christians. It was probably first composed in Hebrew—''i.e.,'' Syro-Chaldaic, or Western Aramaic, the dialect spoken in [[Palestine]] by the Jewish Christians, and then later in Greek, as we now possess it. The date of its composition was clearly before the destruction of Jerusalem, &nbsp;Matthew 24:1-51, and yet some time after the crucifixion of Christ. &nbsp;Matthew 27:7-8; &nbsp;Matthew 28:15. Some of the ancients give the eighth year after the ascension as the date, others the fifteenth. We would place it between 60 and 66 a.d.—a period during which both Mark and Luke probably wrote their gospels. </p>

<p> '''Mat'thew.''' ''(gift of Jehovah).'' [[(A]] contraction, as is also Matthias, of Mattathias. His original name was Levi, and his name, Matthew, was probably adopted as his new apostolic name as a Jew. His father's name was Alphaeus. His home was at Capernaum. His business was the collection of dues and customs from persons and goods crossing the Sea of Galilee, or passing along the great Damascus road which ran along the shore between Bethsaida, [[Julius]] and Capernaum. </p> <p> '''Christ''' called him from this work to he his disciple. He appears to have been a man of wealth, for he made a great feast in his own house, perhaps in order to introduce his former companions and friends to '''Jesus''' . His business would tend to give him a knowledge of human nature, and accurate business habits, and of how to make a way to the hearts of many publicans and sinners not otherwise easily reached. </p> <p> He is mentioned by name, after the resurrection of '''Christ''' , only in &nbsp;Acts 1:15, but he must have lived many years as an apostle, since he was the author of the Gospel of Matthew which was written at least twenty years later. There is reason to believe that he remained for fifteen years at Jerusalem, after which he went as missionary to the Persians, [[Parthians]] and Medes. There is a legend that he died a martyr in Ethiopia. - Editor). </p>