An Evangelist On Himself

Duodecim autem Apostolorum nomina sunt hæc. Primus, Simon, qui dicitur Petrus: et Andreas frater ejus, Jacobus Zebedæi, et Joannes frater ejus, Philippus et Bartholomæus, Thomas et Matthæus publicanus, Jacobus Alphæi et Thaddæus, Simon Chananæus, et Judas Iscariotes, qui et tradidit eum. Ceteri Evangelistae in coniunctione nominum primum ponunt Matthaeum, postea Thomam; nec publicani nomen ascribunt, ne antiquae conversationis recordantes sugillare Evangelistam viderentur; iste vero et post Thomam se ponit, et publicanum appellat: ut ubi abundavit peccatum, superabundet et gratia. Sanctus Hieronymus, In Matthaei Evangelium Expositio, Liber I, Cap X  Source: Migne PL 26.61c

These are the names of the twelve Apostles; first, Simon, also called Peter, and then his brother Andrew,  James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus,  Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 1   The other Evangelists in the pairing of names put Matthew first and Thomas after, and do not add, 'the tax collector,' 2 that they should not seem to throw scorn upon the Evangelist by bringing to mind his old life. He, however, puts himself after Thomas, and calls himself 'the tax collector,' because, 'where sin has abounded, there grace shall much more abound.' 3 Saint Jerome, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Book 1, Chapter 10 1 Mt 10.2 2 Mk 3.18, Lk 6.15 3 Rom 5.20