Matthew 9:9

παράγων ἐκεῖθεν : passing along from the scene of the last incident, Jesus arrives at the custom-house of Capernaum (τελώνιον). εἶδεν … Ματθαῖον λεγ.: there He saw a man named Matthew. (On the identity of Matthew with Levi in Mark and Luke, vide Mark.) Capernaum being near the boundary and on the caravan road between Egypt and Damascus, Matthew would be a busy man, but, doubtless, Christ and he have met before. Ἀκολούθει μοι : Jesus acted on His own plans, but the recent encounter with the scribes would not be without influence on this new departure the call of a publican. It was a kind of defiance to the party who cherished hard thoughts not only about pardon but about those who needed pardon. An impolitic step the worldly-wise would say; sure to create prejudice. But those who are too anxious to conciliate the prejudices of the present do nothing for the future. ἀναστὰς ἠκολούθησεν : prompt compliance, probably with some astonishment at the invitation.