Matthew the Apostle

==Ministry==
The New Testament records that as a [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciple]], Matthew followed Jesus. Afterward, the disciples withdrew to an upper room (Acts 1:10–14){{sfn|Freedman|2001|p=130–133, 201}} (traditionally the [[Cenacle]]) in [[Early centers of Christianity#Jerusalem|Jerusalem]].{{sfn|Jacquier|1911}} The disciples remained in and about Jerusalem and proclaimed that Jesus was [[Jewish Messiah|the promised Messiah]].

In the [[Babylonian Talmud]] (Sanhedrin 43a), "Mattai" is one of five disciples of "[[Jeshu]]".{{sfn|Schneemelcher|2003|p=17}}

Early Church Fathers such as [[Irenaeus]] (''Against Heresies'' 3.1.1) and [[Clement of Alexandria]] say that Matthew preached the gospel to the Jewish community in Judea, before going to other countries. Ancient writers are not in agreement as to which other countries these are, but almost all sources mention [[Ethiopia]].{{sfn|Jacquier|1911}} The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church each hold the tradition that Matthew died as a [[martyr]] and the Babylonian Talmud appears to report his execution in Sanhedrin 43a.{{sfn|Lardner|1838|p=299}}{{sfn|Bock|2002|p=164}}

According to Church tradition, while preaching in [[Ethiopia]], Matthew converted, and then [[Consecrated life|consecrated to God]], [[Ephigenia of Ethiopia]], the virgin daughter of King Egippus.<ref>''The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine'', translated and adapted by Ryan, Granger and Helmut Ripperger. (Arno Press: Longmans, Green & Co) 1941. pp. 561–566.</ref> When King Hirtacus succeeded Egippus, he asked the apostle if he could persuade Ephigenia to marry him. Matthew thus invited King Hirtacus to [[Christian liturgy|liturgy]] the following Sunday, where he rebuked him for lusting after the girl, as she was a nun and therefore was the bride of Christ. The enraged King thus ordered his bodyguard to kill Matthew who stood at the altar, making him a [[martyr]].<ref name=ROCOR2004>The Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Western Europe and the Americas (ROCOR). ''St. Hilarion Calendar of Saints for the year of our Lord 2004.'' St. Hilarion Press (Austin, TX). p.&nbsp;70.</ref>