Apostle; brother of Peter; first-called
c. AD 30 · New Testament
The brother of Simon Peter and one of the twelve apostles — among the first called by Jesus, famous for bringing Peter to Christ and for introducing others to Jesus throughout his ministry.
Andrew was the son of Jonah (Matthew 16:17), brother of Simon Peter, and a fisherman of Bethsaida (John 1:44). He was originally a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35-40). When John pointed to Jesus and said 'Behold the Lamb of God,' Andrew and another disciple followed Jesus. Jesus invited them to 'come and see.' Andrew then 'first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias' (John 1:41). He brought Peter to Jesus. This is the pattern of Andrew's role in Scripture — bringing others to Christ. (1) John 1:40-42 — brings Peter. (2) John 6:8-9 — brings the boy with five loaves and two fish to Jesus before the feeding of the 5,000. (3) John 12:20-22 — with Philip, brings Greeks who wanted to see Jesus. Andrew was one of the inner four — Peter, James, John, Andrew — who came to Jesus privately on the Mount of Olives asking about the end times (Mark 13:3). He was present at the Last Supper and at the giving of the Great Commission. After Pentecost, tradition holds Andrew preached in Scythia (south Russia), Greece, and other regions. He was reportedly crucified on an X-shaped cross (the 'St. Andrew's cross') at Patras, Greece, around AD 60-70. He is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, and Greece. The Bible says little about Andrew compared to Peter — but what it shows is consistent: a quiet brother and a connecter of people to Jesus.
Hears "Behold the Lamb of God"
"We have found the Messias"
With Peter — "fishers of men"
Before the feeding of the 5,000
"Sir, we would see Jesus"
Asks about end times
Andrew's significance: (1) He brought Peter to Christ — making him indirectly responsible for the chief apostle's call. (2) He models the ministry of personal introduction — bringing one person at a time to Jesus. (3) He shows that not every disciple needs to be prominent — Andrew quietly served alongside more famous apostles. (4) His pattern of evangelism is repeated wherever 'we have found the Messias' is followed by 'come and see.' (5) His martyrdom tradition shows costly faithfulness.
“We have found the Messias.”— John 1:41
“There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”— John 6:9
Andrew was the son of Jonah, brother of Simon Peter, and one of the twelve apostles. Originally a disciple of John the Baptist, he was one of the first to follow Jesus and immediately brought his brother Peter to Christ (John 1:40-42). He appears throughout the Gospels as the quiet connecter — bringing the boy with loaves (John 6), bringing Greeks who wanted to see Jesus (John 12).
Yes. John 1:40-42 — after Andrew followed Jesus, 'He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias... And he brought him to Jesus.' Andrew is responsible for bringing the chief apostle to Christ. This is a profound act of evangelism with eternal consequences.
The New Testament doesn't record Andrew's death. Tradition (Eusebius and others) holds that he preached in Scythia, Greece, and other regions, and was crucified on an X-shaped cross at Patras, Greece, around AD 60-70. The X-shape became known as the 'St. Andrew's cross' and appears on the flag of Scotland.
(1) Bringing people to Jesus is the heart of discipleship. (2) Faithful obscurity matters — Andrew was less famous than Peter but no less faithful. (3) Small offerings (like the boy's loaves) can produce massive results in Jesus' hands. (4) Personal introduction — one to one — is powerful evangelism.