Matthew, the Holy Evangelist, in the Year 70

Matthew, also called Levi, the son of Alpheus, was a publican in Capernaum. The publicans were hated by the Jews, because the Jews did not consider themselves justly bound to pay toll or tribute to any foreign prince. Matthew 9, verse 9; Mark 3, verse 18; Luke 5, verse 29. As for the condition of publicans at that time, it was such that they generally demanded more from the people than was just; for which reason they were shunned by the godly, so that open sinners, who were separated from the church, were compared to publicans. Matthew 9, verse 11; Matthew 18, verse 17.

When Matthew, or Levi, was still unconverted, and made his living in this unjust business, Christ met him with His grace, and commanded him to follow Him as a disciple. Obeying an inward impulse, he left the customhouse; and having prepared a great feast for the occasion of taking leave of his companions, he invited his fellow publicans, and also the Lord Jesus; apparently as a farewell, so that they might have opportunity to be converted through the teaching of the Lord Jesus.

After this Matthew at once left everything, and zealously followed his Lord, who had called him, and who, after He had instructed him more fully, placed him among the apostles. He too carried out that office among the Jews until the death of Christ. Matthew 10, verse 3; Luke 6, verse 15.

Afterward, when he was sent out to teach among the heathen, Ethiopia fell to his lot. But before he left Judea he, through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, wrote his Gospel in the Hebrew language, and left it to them. Eusebius, book 5, chapter 1. Joh. Gys. Nicephorus, book 3, chapter 20. Second. J. Gys. [n118-2]

In Ethiopia he accomplished much, by teaching as well as by miracles; and there, after his death, he also left to posterity his written Gospel, from which it can easily be seen what faith he held, namely, the faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that He became a real man, through the power of the Holy Ghost, in His mother Mary. Matthew, chapter 1, throughout.

History states that immediately after the death of King Aeglippus, who was devoted to the Christians, his successor Hytacus, an unbelieving heathen, persecuted this apostle, and that at a certain time, while this pious apostle of Christ was teaching the church of God, he had him arrested and, as some write, nailed to the ground, and beheaded, in Naddavar, the capital of Ethiopia, where he is also buried, according to Venantius Fortunatus, who wrote, over a thousand years ago, "For the great city Naddavar shall restore to us at the last day the eminent apostle Matthew." J. Gys. in Hist. Mart., folio 12, column 2. Also, Konst tooneel van veertig, in the life of Matthew. Also, P. J. Twisck, Bybelsch Naemboeck, folio 65, column 2, letter M. This writer states that he was fastened to the ground with darts, and that death followed. Joh. [n118-3] Gys., from Venantius Fortunatus, de Gaud. hitcr, book 7. [n118-4]