1st century
Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist
Tax collector who became one of the Twelve and, according to tradition, wrote the first Gospel.
Biography
Matthew, son of Alphaeus from Galilee, was originally called Levi and worked as a tax collector in Capernaum. When Jesus called him to follow, Matthew immediately left his profession and hosted Jesus at his home together with other tax collectors and sinners, an act the Pharisees criticized.
He became one of the Twelve Apostles and, according to tradition, wrote the first Gospel of the New Testament. He is said to have preached afterwards in Judea and then in other lands, including Ethiopia, where he was martyred.