Levi (Levi, son of Alphaeus, the tax collector called by Jesus (also known as Matthew))
The Tax Collector Who Became an Apostle
Jesu tidApostleDisciplec. 1st century AD
Levi, also known as Matthew, was a tax collector in Capernaum who was called by Jesus to become one of his twelve apostles. He left everything to follow Jesus and hosted a great banquet for him. He is traditionally regarded as the author of the Gospel of Matthew, the first gospel in the New Testament.
28And Levi left everything, got up, and followed him.
grekκαὶ καταλιπὼν ⸀πάντα ἀναστὰς ⸀ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ.
The Feast at Levi's House
Levi held a great feast for Jesus in his home, where many tax collectors and sinners were present. The Pharisees and the scribes criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners.
15Later, as Jesus was reclining at table in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with him and his disciples—for there were many who followed him.
16When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
4Simon the Cananaean,[^1] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
[^1]: An Aramaic term meaning "the zealous one"; elsewhere rendered "Simon the Zealot."
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And Matthew got up and followed him.
When the Pharisees asked why Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus answered: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
13When they arrived, they went up to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.