Saint Matthew, one of the twelve Apostles, who from being a publican, that is, a taxgatherer, was called by our Saviour to the Apostleship: in that profession his name is Levi. (Luke 5.27, and Mark 2.14.) He was the first of the Evangelists that wrote the Gospel, and that in Hebrew or Syro-Chaldaic which the Jews in Palestine spoke at that time. The original is not now extant; but it was translated in the time of the Apostles into Greek, that version was of equal authority. He wrote about six years after the Lord's Ascension.Matthew Chapter 1The genealogy of Christ: he is conceived and born of a virgin.1:1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:1:2. Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren.1:3. And Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron. And Esron begot Aram.1:4. And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon.1:5. And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse.1:6. And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias.1:7. And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa.1:8. And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias.1:9. And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot Ezechias.1:10. And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias.1:11. And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon.1:12. And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel.1:13. And Zorobabel begot Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor.1:14. And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim begot Eliud.1:15. And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob.1:16. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.