Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Apostle and Evangelist: Saint Matthew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is traditionally identified as the author of the Gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament in the Christian Bible. He is also known as Matthew the Evangelist.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The feast day of St. Matthew is celebrated on September 21st.
  • St. Matthew is often depicted in art with a winged man or angel as his symbol.
  • According to tradition, St. Matthew was a tax collector before becoming an apostle.

Advanced Usage

• "The Gospel according to St. Matthew": This is the full traditional title for the first book of the New Testament.
  • We studied the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel according to St. Matthew.

Variants and Related Words

• Matthew: The name without the honorific "Saint" or "St."
• St. Matthew the Apostle: A fuller title emphasizing his role as one of the twelve apostles.
• The Gospel of Matthew: Refers specifically to the biblical text attributed to him.

Synonyms

• Matthew the Evangelist
• Levi (The name given to him in the Gospels of Mark and Luke before his call by Jesus)

Related Phrases

• "The calling of St. Matthew": A common subject in Christian art depicting the moment Jesus invited Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him.
  • Caravaggio's famous painting illustrates the calling of St. Matthew.

Noun

1. (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel