Matthew the Apostle

About Matthew the Apostle

Matthew the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, holds a substantial position in global history, ranked #184 by MIT's Historical Popularity Index. As a key figure in the foundational narratives of Christianity, his historical importance stems from his traditional role as the author of the Gospel of Matthew and his role as a direct eyewitness to the life and ministry of Jesus. His estimated lifespan spanned from 10 to 74, placing him firmly within the ancient religious context that shaped Western and global civilization.

In the digital age of 2025, Matthew the Apostle receives an estimated 566K Wikipedia views annually. This places his attention metrics close to his historical standing, as his Attention Gap is calculated at approximately 1x, meaning his online attention is roughly proportional to his historical influence. For contrast, this is significantly less attention than other religious figures like Francis of Assisi (#212 importance) who garners 1.3M views, suggesting a specific focus within the broader religious category. However, his annual view growth is positive at +1.7%, indicating sustained, if modest, contemporary interest.