PERSON · APOSTLE
Andrew
Andrew was among the first disciples called by Jesus and the first to bring another person—his brother Simon Peter—to Jesus. He is named first among those who privately questioned Jesus about the destruction of the temple on the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 4:18–20
- Ministry
- Ministry of Jesus and early church, c. 27–65 AD
The Story
He was not the one who walked on water. He did not lay his head on Jesus' shoulder at the last supper, and he was not present at the Transfiguration on the mountain. Andrew, son of Jonas, brother of Simon Peter, occupies a quieter place in the Gospel story — and yet the story could not have begun without him.
He was a fisherman working the Sea of Galilee, and the Gospels find him first not at his nets but beside the Jordan River, following John the Baptist. It is John's Gospel that gives us the earliest portrait of Andrew: one of two disciples who heard John identify Jesus as the Lamb of God and immediately turned to follow this new teacher. When Jesus turned and asked what they sought, they called him Rabbi and went with him to see where he dwelt, remaining with him that day. Scripture does not record what passed between them in those hours, but whatever Andrew heard and saw that afternoon changed the entire course of what followed.
Because the very next thing Andrew did was go and find his brother.
Life & Legacy
Death
TraditionScripture does not record Andrew's death. Early church tradition holds that he was crucified on an X-shaped cross at Patras in Achaea, Greece, under the Roman proconsul Aegeas.
Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.1; Acts of Andrew (early tradition)
Legacy
ScriptureAndrew is listed among the Twelve Apostles in all four apostolic lists in the New Testament and was present with the disciples in the upper room after the Ascension. He is venerated as the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, and Russia in later church tradition.
Acts 1:13; Matthew 10:2
Character
ScriptureAndrew is depicted in Scripture as a fisherman who immediately left his nets to follow Jesus when called. He brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus and later brought a boy with five loaves and two fish to Jesus' attention, and also conveyed the request of certain Greeks who wished to see Jesus.
Matthew 4:18–20; John 1:41–42; John 6:8–9; John 12:21–22
Significance
ScriptureAndrew was among the first disciples called by Jesus and the first to bring another person—his brother Simon Peter—to Jesus. He is named first among those who privately questioned Jesus about the destruction of the temple on the Mount of Olives.
John 1:35–42; Mark 13:3–4
DeathTradition
Scripture does not record Andrew's death. Early church tradition holds that he was crucified on an X-shaped cross at Patras in Achaea, Greece, under the Roman proconsul Aegeas.
Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.1; Acts of Andrew (early tradition)
LegacyScripture
Andrew is listed among the Twelve Apostles in all four apostolic lists in the New Testament and was present with the disciples in the upper room after the Ascension. He is venerated as the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, and Russia in later church tradition.
Acts 1:13; Matthew 10:2
CharacterScripture
Andrew is depicted in Scripture as a fisherman who immediately left his nets to follow Jesus when called. He brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus and later brought a boy with five loaves and two fish to Jesus' attention, and also conveyed the request of certain Greeks who wished to see Jesus.
Matthew 4:18–20; John 1:41–42; John 6:8–9; John 12:21–22
SignificanceScripture
Andrew was among the first disciples called by Jesus and the first to bring another person—his brother Simon Peter—to Jesus. He is named first among those who privately questioned Jesus about the destruction of the temple on the Mount of Olives.
John 1:35–42; Mark 13:3–4
Artist's impression