Significance of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
In Christian tradition, the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament.
Matthew was a former tax collector (Levi) who was called by Jesus to be one of the Twelve Apostles, Mark was a follower of Peter and so an “apostolic man,” Luke was a doctor who wrote what is now the book of Luke to Theophilus. Also known to have written the book of Acts (or Acts of the Apostles) and to have been a close friend of Paul of Tarsus, John was a disciple of Jesus and the youngest of his Twelve Apostles.
They are called evangelists, a word meaning “people who proclaim good news,” because their books aim to tell the “good news” (“gospel”) of Jesus.
Perhaps the Four Calling birds are proclaiming that Good News as well.