Matthew, surnamed Levi.

Chapter III.

Matthew, ²³⁴⁹ also called Levi, apostle and aforetimes publican, composed a gospel of Christ at first published in Judea in Hebrew ²³⁵⁰ for the sake of those of the circumcision who believed, but this was afterwards translated into Greek though by what author is uncertain. The Hebrew itself has been preserved until the present day in the library at Cæsarea which Pamphilus so diligently gathered. I have also had the opportunity of having the volume described to me by the Nazarenes ²³⁵¹ of Berœa, ²³⁵² a city of Syria, who use it. In this it is to be noted that wherever the Evangelist, whether on his own account or in the person of our Lord the Saviour quotes the testimony of the Old Testament he does not follow the authority of the translators of the Septuagint but the Hebrew. Wherefore these two forms exist “Out of Egypt have I called my son,” and “for he shall be called a Nazarene.”

Footnotes

362:2349

Died after 62.

362:2350

Gospel…in Hebrew. Jerome seems to regard the Gospel according to the Hebrews mentioned by him above as the original Hebrew Text of Matthew. cf. Lightfoot, Ignatius v. 2. p. 295.

362:2351

Nazarenes=Nasaraei. See Smith and Wace s.v.

362:2352

Berœa some mss. read Veria and so Herding. The modern Aleppo.