Andrew
“Manly or courageous”
Summary
One of Jesus' twelve apostles, the brother of Simon Peter, originally a disciple of John the Baptist, and notable for bringing others to meet Jesus.
☩Background
Andrew was a native of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee and the brother of Simon Peter. Both were fishermen by trade. Andrew appears to have been a disciple of John the Baptist before following Jesus. His Greek name (meaning 'manly') suggests the Hellenistic influence in Galilee, though he and his brother were thoroughly Jewish fishermen. He is often grouped with Philip, who was also from Bethsaida and similarly had a Greek name.
☩First to Follow
According to John's Gospel, Andrew was one of two disciples of John the Baptist who heard John declare Jesus to be 'the Lamb of God' and followed Him to see where He was staying. After spending the day with Jesus, Andrew immediately found his brother Simon and declared, 'We have found the Messiah,' then brought him to Jesus. This pattern of bringing others to Christ characterizes Andrew's ministry throughout the Gospels.
☩Ministry with Jesus
Andrew appears in all lists of the twelve apostles, usually among the first four along with his brother Peter and the sons of Zebedee. He asked Jesus about the signs of His coming on the Mount of Olives. When faced with the need to feed five thousand, Andrew brought the boy with five loaves and two fish to Jesus, saying 'but what are they among so many?' When certain Greeks wanted to see Jesus, Philip told Andrew, and together they brought the request to Christ.
☩Later Ministry
After Pentecost, tradition records that Andrew preached in various regions including Scythia, Greece, and Asia Minor. He is traditionally said to have been martyred at Patras in Achaia, crucified on an X-shaped cross (now called 'St. Andrew's Cross'), which he is reported to have requested because he considered himself unworthy to die on the same kind of cross as his Lord. He is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, and Greece.
Related Verses14 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Andrew," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).