Saint Matthew, also known as Matthew the Apostle, was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. He is traditionally recognized as the author of the Gospel of Matthew, which is the first book of the New Testament. Before following Jesus, Matthew was a tax collector, a profession often viewed negatively in his time. Matthew is celebrated for his role in spreading the teachings of Jesus and is often depicted in Christian art as a man writing or with a book. His feast day is observed on September 21 in the Western Christian tradition, honoring his contributions to Christianity.