MATTHEW

Matthew
    n 1: (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered
         to be the author of the first Gospel [syn: {Matthew},
         {Saint Matthew}, {St. Matthew}, {Saint Matthew the
         Apostle}, {St. Matthew the Apostle}, {Levi}]
    2: one of the Gospels in the New Testament; includes the Sermon
       on the Mount [syn: {Matthew}, {Gospel According to Matthew}]
    

Matthew \Matthew\ prop. n.
   Saint Matthew, a disciple of Jesus; author of the first
   Gospel.

   Syn: Saint Matthew, St. Matthew, Saint Matthew the Apostle,
        Levi.
        [WordNet 1.5]
    

Matthew
gift of God, a common Jewish name after the Exile. He was the
son of Alphaeus, and was a publican or tax-gatherer at
Capernaum. On one occasion Jesus, coming up from the side of the
lake, passed the custom-house where Matthew was seated, and said
to him, "Follow me." Matthew arose and followed him, and became
his disciple (Matt. 9:9). Formerly the name by which he was
known was Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he now changed it,
possibly in grateful memory of his call, to Matthew. The same
day on which Jesus called him he made a "great feast" (Luke
5:29), a farewell feast, to which he invited Jesus and his
disciples, and probably also many of old associates. He was
afterwards selected as one of the twelve (6:15). His name does
not occur again in the Gospel history except in the lists of the
apostles. The last notice of him is in Acts 1:13. The time and
manner of his death are unknown.