Andrew was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. He was the brother of Simon Peter and was called along with him by Jesus to be a disciple (Matthew 4:18-20). Andrew came from Bethsaida along with Peter and Philip (John 1:44). He was initially a disciple of John the Baptist before leaving to follow Jesus (John 1:35-39).
Andrew is mentioned several times in the Gospels, but very little is said about him as an individual. He was present at major events in Jesus’ ministry, including the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-14), Jesus’ final prophecy about the destruction of the temple (Mark 13:3-4), and on the Mount of Olives when Jesus gave his Olivet Discourse (Mark 13:3). Andrew was also present in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:43-52).
Andrew’s name means “manly” or “brave” in Greek. He lived in Capernaum along with Peter and the others (Mark 1:29). It seems that among the disciples Andrew was one of the first followers of Jesus. He is always listed among the first four disciples in the different Gospel accounts.
Andrew brought people to Jesus. After spending time with Jesus and recognizing him as the Messiah, the first thing Andrew did was find his brother Simon Peter and tell him, “We have found the Messiah!” (John 1:41). Andrew then brought his brother to meet Jesus. This was the pattern for Andrew – meeting Jesus, recognizing who he was, and immediately bringing others to him.
Later in Jesus’ ministry, Andrew brought a boy with five barley loaves and two fish to Jesus when Jesus was speaking to a large crowd. Jesus used the boy’s loaves and fish to miraculously feed the whole crowd of five thousand people (John 6:8-13).
The Gospel of John highlights three episodes in which Andrew brings people to Jesus:
– He brings his brother Simon Peter to Jesus (John 1:40-42)
– He brings the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus (John 6:8-9)
– He brings Greeks to Jesus who had come to Jerusalem to worship at Passover (John 12:20-22)
These passages show that Andrew was a disciple of action. He was passionate about bringing people to meet Jesus. John 1:40-42 describes him as originally a disciple of John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said “Behold the Lamb of God,” Andrew left John to follow Jesus.
Andrew was one of the earliest disciples called. Because he promptly brought his brother Peter to Jesus, Andrew is associated with being the first to call others to be disciples of Jesus. The Gospel writers emphasize this role in Andrew’s stories. He exemplified the missionary spirit that Christ desires for his followers – to first know Christ yourself, and then persistently bring others into an encounter with Him.
Apart from the Gospels, Andrew is mentioned only once more in the New Testament. In Acts 1:13 he is listed among the eleven disciples (after Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus and killed himself). The passages in John show that Andrew and Peter maintained their fishing business on the Sea of Galilee even while following Jesus. Andrew was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to be a “fisher of men” (Matthew 4:19).
A couple non-biblical legends about Andrew emerged in church history. One tradition says Andrew traveled north to preach the gospel in Scythia and Greece after Pentecost. Another legend claims he was martyred by being crucified on an X-shaped cross. This last tradition is why Andrew’s cross is depicted with an “X” shape in early Christian iconography.
However, the Bible gives no information about Andrew’s life after the resurrection. As one of the twelve disciples, Andrew witnessed Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. His designation as an apostle qualified him to preach the gospel with authority and lead the early church. But within the biblical record, Andrew remains a mostly quiet, background character. No words of his are recorded. Yet we see his heart for people in the way he consistently brings others to Christ.
Key facts about Andrew according to the Bible:
– He was originally a disciple of John the Baptist who then left to follow Jesus
– Andrew was a fisherman by trade before becoming a disciple of Jesus
– He was the brother of Simon Peter who he brought to Jesus
– Andrew recognized Jesus as the Messiah very early in Jesus’ ministry
– He is consistently seen bringing people to meet Jesus
– Andrew brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus
– He brought inquiring Greeks to speak with Jesus right before his death
– Andrew was one of the twelve disciples who became apostles
– He witnessed Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection
– Andrew’s name means “brave” or “manly” in Greek
– The Bible records no more about Andrew after Acts 1:13
Andrew’s purpose can be summarized as persistently bringing others to Christ. He exemplified the heart of a missionary – first meeting Christ, then devoting his life to introducing others to the Savior. At least three specific instances are told where Andrew led people to meet Jesus. But there were doubtless many more untold occasions where his work impacted lives.
As one of the twelve, Andrew was chosen by Jesus to faithfully preserve and preach the gospel after Christ returned to heaven. His calling as an apostle entrusted him with authority in the early church. Andrew brought the truth of Jesus to others with power and boldness after witnessing the risen Lord.
The name “Andrew” means “manly” or “strong.” Andrew lived up to his name by fearlessly spreading the message of salvation through Christ. He exemplified strength of spirit in his enthusiastic mission to affect lives for eternity. Though the Bible does not record extended stories or speeches from him, Andrew’s character as a disciple stands out. His faith led him to invest his life in service of God’s kingdom.
The Gospels record Andrew as one of Jesus’ first and most devoted followers. He left everything when Jesus called him to be a fisher of men. Andrew’s instant response to follow exemplified the type of obedience and commitment Christ desires from his disciples. The example of Andrew inspires modern readers to evaluate their own willingness to leave comfort or routine behind when the Lord prompts them to step out in faith.
After developing a relationship with Jesus, Andrew made bringing others to Christ his life mission. He recognized the truth of who Jesus was and could not keep that blessing to himself. Andrew valued sharing the opportunity to know Christ with those he cared about, like his brother Peter. Each person Andrew brought to Jesus encountered the Savior for themselves. This demonstrates the high value of personal testimony in spreading the gospel.
Andrew shows readers the importance and impact of telling others what God has done in one’s life. Every believer has a story of God’s grace to share with those who need to experience salvation through Christ. Andrew acted out of faith to tell those around him about Jesus. He presents an example of boldness, action, and unwavering devotion to the gospel message.
The brief biblical portrait of Andrew inspires Christians to imitate his faith. By God’s grace, the life of each follower of Christ can exhibit Andrew’s outstanding qualities of commitment, zeal, and missionary focus. Andrew’s legacy lives on whenever a believer introduces someone new to a transformational relationship with Jesus Christ.