The Followers

Et cum transisset inde Jesus, vidit hominem sedentem in telonio, Matthaeum nomine et ait illi: Sequere me. Et surgens secutus est eum. Arguit in hoc loco Porphyrius et Julianus Augustus, vel imperitiam historici mentientis, vel stultitiam eorum qui statim secuti sint Salvatorem, quasi irrationabiliter quemlibet vocantem hominem sint secuti, cum tantae virtutes, tantaque signa praecesserint, quae Apostolos antequam crederent, vidisse non dubium est. Certe fulgor ipse, et majestas divinitatis occultae, quae etiam in humana facie relucebat, ex primo ad se videntes trahere poterat aspectu. Si enim in magnete lapide et succinis haec esse vis dicitur, ut annulos, et stipulam, et festucas sibi copulent, quanto magis Dominus omnium creaturarum ad se trahere poterat, quos volebat? Sanctus Hieronymus, In Matthaei Evangelium Expositio, Liber I, Cap IX  Source: Migne PL 26.56a-b

And when Jesus was passing, he saw a man sitting at the tax booth by the name of Matthew, and He said to him, 'Follow me.' And rising he followed Him. 1 On this line Porphyry and Julian the Emperor argue with either with the ignorance of a fabricator of history or the foolishness of those who instantly followed the Saviour, as if they would mindlessly follow any man who called them, when great powers and great signs came before which, without doubt, the Apostles witnessed and so believed. Certainly with the splendour and majesty of His Divine nature obscured, yet it shone in the human face, by which He was able to draw others to Himself at first sight. If indeed a magnet and amber have this power, so that it is said that rings and blades and rods are bound together, how much more may the Lord draw all creatures to Him if He wishes? Saint Jerome, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Book 1 Chap 9 1 Mt 9.9