Andrew was from Bethsaida in Galilee. He was a fisherman along with his brother Simon Peter and the sons of Zebedee, James and John. Although Jewish, only the Greek name "Andrew," meaning "manly," is recorded for him in the Bible.
Andrew is first introduced in the Bible as a disciple of John the Baptist. He listened intently as John the Baptist preached about the coming Messiah who would take away the sins of the world. One day John the Baptist pointed to Jesus walking by and declared, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" (John 1:36). Andrew and the other man with him, presumably the disciple John, decided to follow Jesus and spend the day with Him. Andrew was convinced this was the Messiah they had been waiting for and went to tell his brother Simon Peter. He was the first person we know of to bring someone to meet Jesus and also one of the first to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
A little while later Jesus finds Andrew and Simon Peter out fishing. He provides a miraculous catch of fish and calls the brothers, as well as James and John who were fishing partners of Peter's, to follow Him. The men "left everything and followed him" (Luke 5:1–11; see also Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20). Andrew is always listed in the first four of the twelve disciples of Jesus. Although he was not part of Jesus' innermost circle like Peter, John, and James, he was with them from the beginning.
Andrew is mentioned in the account of the feeding of the 5,000 (plus women and children). Andrew is the one who locates the boy with loaves of bread and fish (John 6:1–14). Though he does not see how it will help to feed so many, he is still trying to find a solution. He seems to have faith that Jesus can do something with it. He is also curious to learn more about Jesus' prediction that the temple will be destroyed. Peter, James, John, and Andrew "asked [Jesus] privately, 'Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?'" (Mark 13:3–4). Jesus' answer provides us great insight into the end times, but also points to His ultimate authority and victory over evil.
Andrew is recognized as one of the first disciples to actively bring people to Jesus, specifically Gentiles. In John 12:21–26, he and Philip inform Jesus about a group of Greeks who want to see Jesus. Jesus responds with a prophecy about His work on the cross, which will provide salvation for Jews and Gentiles who put their faith in Christ.
Early church manuscripts suggest Andrew served as a missionary in parts of Eurasia including Scythia, Achaea, and communities around the Black Sea. He suffered a martyr's death possibly on an X-shaped cross as he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Christ.
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