Dictionary Summary: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](/matt#Matt.9.9)). Formerly the name by which he was known was Levi ([Mark 2:14](/mark#Mark.2.14); [Luke 5:27](/luke#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](/luke#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](/acts#Acts.1.13). The time and manner of his death are unknown. ²