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
    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
   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.