2, and following, xxi.

7, 21.Comp.i.35, and following, in which the disciple referred to is probably John.] Among the preceding personages, all those of whom we know anything had begun by being fishermen.

At all events, none of them belonged to a socially elevated class.

Only Matthew or Levi, son of Alpheus,[1] had been a publican.

But those to whom they gave this name in Judea were not the farmers-general of taxes, men of elevated rank (always Roman patricians), who were called at Rome _publicani_.[2] They were the agents of these contractors, employes of low rank, simply officers of the customs.