Andrew

Key Biblical Facts & Narrative

• Brother of Simon Peter: Andrew is first introduced as the brother of Simon (who is later named Peter). He is consistently listed among the Twelve Apostles, and in every list of the Twelve, he is placed within the first four, often second (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14).
• A Disciple of John the Baptist: Before following Jesus, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. This is found only in the Gospel of John (John 1:35–40). Andrew heard John the Baptist proclaim Jesus as "the Lamb of God" and, upon hearing this, Andrew and another disciple immediately left John to follow Jesus.
• The First Called and First Evangelist: Andrew is the very first disciple named in Scripture to follow Jesus (John 1:37–40). Immediately after spending time with Jesus, Andrew's first recorded act is to find his own brother, Simon, and tell him:

  "We have found the Messiah" (John 1:41).

  He then brought Simon to Jesus. This makes Andrew the first recorded personal evangelist in the Gospel narrative.
• A Fisherman by Trade: Along with his brother Peter, Andrew was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16). Jesus called them both to become "fishers of men" while they were casting their nets into the sea.
• The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes: Andrew plays a specific and crucial role in the feeding of the five thousand. When Jesus tested Philip about buying bread, it was Andrew who spoke up and identified a boy who had five barley loaves and two small fish. Andrew, however, expressed doubt about the scale, asking:

  "But what are they among so many?" (John 6:8–9).

  His action brought the available resources to Jesus, which Jesus then multiplied.
• The Request of the Greeks: When certain Greeks (Gentiles) who had come to worship at the Passover feast wanted to see Jesus, they approached Philip, and Philip went to tell Andrew. Andrew then, together with Philip, went to tell Jesus (John 12:20–22). This shows Andrew as an approachable and trusted disciple, one to whom people turned to gain access to Jesus, and one who was willing to bring the request of Gentiles to the Lord.
• A Questioner on the Mount of Olives: Andrew is one of the four disciples who privately asked Jesus about the timing and sign of the destruction of the Temple and the end of the age. In Mark 13:3–4, it is recorded that Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to Jesus privately on the Mount of Olives to ask this question, prompting Jesus' great prophetic discourse.
• Present at Pentecost: After the ascension of Jesus, Andrew is listed among the eleven apostles, along with Mary and the other disciples, who were gathered together in the upper room in Jerusalem, devoting themselves to prayer before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:13–14).

Summary of Character

Andrew is presented in Scripture as a man of initiative, faith, and practical service. He is not as prominently featured as his brother Peter, but he is consistently shown as a connector and a bringer of people to Jesus. His defining characteristic is his readiness to share the good news of the Messiah, first with his own brother, and then with others, including the boy with the loaves and the seeking Greeks. He is a disciple who listens, follows, and immediately brings others to the Master.