In the picture he is inspired by an angle when he writes.
Get this, Matthew was a tax collector for Rome. He collected taxes for a place called Capernaum. Guess where Capernaum is geographically? Capernaum is on the Sea of Gallalee. The people of Capernaum mostly held him in contempt. That isn't new for a tax collector. I'd think Matthew was a rather wealthy fellow. Jesus had no regard for public opinion. I would that rather obvious given the fact he scoffed at the power of Rome. But, when it came to Matthew I can understand why he saw him as a great attribute to his cause. He ran across Matthew and stated, ""Follow me, And he arose and followed him." Matthew (9:9-10).
Matthew was a rather powerful man. He didn't just collect taxes for Rome, he also traded in goods needed by Rome's Legions/military. He managed the collection of port duties, and oversaw public building projects. He was not only wealthy, but, also powerful.
Matthew wrote his book in Aramaic. The Jewish converts spoke that language. He called the teachings to coverts "The Faith of Judaea." He first taught the communities of Palestine. There is no complete record of the area of the world he taught, but, there are some notations he was in Ethiopia. It is also believed he taught the nations of the east such as Parthia and Persia (Iran).
Parthis is a difficult definition in this time in Earth's history. Historically there is an empire that spans most of the Middle East, but, it occurs much later, about 150 to 175 years later. But, that sort of gives the idea of where he was when he taught. Anytime there is a mention of Persia that is Iran as it is today.
Matthew sincerely and profoundly believed Jesus was the promise to the Messianic Kingdom. He was also a disciple of St. John the Baptist whom is not an apostle. Matthew even falls back into Judaism at one time. That is understandable. He longs for people. He wants to bring them forward in their beliefs, but, he also longs for the life he had.
I found this rather interesting. Matthew didn't leave the area of his birth until Jesus was persecuted by Herod. When reading the text of the Christian Bible there is opposition to Herod, but, that same point of time in the Hebrew text Herod is an agreeable figure. There was a profound parting of the ways with the teachings of Jesus. Remember though Rome split at that time and the Eastern Rome Empire would become very powerful and in majority rejected polytheism. There was a lot going on and separation of ethnicities into autonomous nations of 'belief.'
The best departure by Matthew falls around the Council of Jerusalem. It was a time of new rules and new directions. Literally and figuratively. This was after the death of Jesus and in the years of 42 AD to 50 AD. Paul would build the first church in 50 AD. Interestingly, while Paul is not an apostle in the Catholic Church he is widely recognized Episcopal church. Schisms.
Jerusalem is still intact when Matthew writes his Gospels. The destruction of the city would come about 70 AD. So, from his writings it is fairly certain he and Paul and Peter were sort of together and on the same page in the vicinity of Jerusalem.
He is honored as a martyr but nothing is known of his death. It sincerely is not known if he lived a full life. He may have. He was favored by Rome. He was well known by Rome and for the most part Rome took care of it's own regardless of any activity otherwise. Romans were part gods. They were of pure blood. Therefore those that aided their ruling class were also elevated in social status.
