Andrew #78

Andrew was one of the twelve apostles, a fisherman from Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee who later lived in Capernaum with his brother Simon Peter (John 1:44; Mark 1:29). His name is Greek, meaning “manly” or “brave.” Andrew is among the first people to follow Jesus and is one of the few whose actions are described in more than one Gospel, though he never becomes a leading speaker.

Biblical Significance

The Gospels tell of his calling in two ways. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee, sees Simon and Andrew casting a net, and calls them to follow him and become fishers of men, and they leave their nets at once (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18). In John, Andrew was earlier a disciple of John the Baptist. When the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew and another disciple followed Jesus and stayed with him that day. Andrew then found his brother Simon and told him that they had found the Messiah, and brought him to Jesus (John 1:35-42).

That pattern, of bringing others to Jesus, marks the rest of what John tells about him. When a crowd of thousands was hungry, it was Andrew who mentioned a boy with five barley loaves and two fish, though he asked what use they could be for so many (John 6:5-9). When some Greeks came to Philip wishing to see Jesus, Philip went to Andrew, and together they told Jesus (John 12:20-22). Andrew is also listed among the four disciples who privately asked Jesus about the destruction of the temple and the signs of the end (Mark 13:3-4). In all the lists of the Twelve, he appears among the first four names, and in Acts 1:13 he is among those gathered in the upper room after the ascension.

Legacy

Little is said about Andrew after Acts 1, and later accounts rest on tradition rather than Scripture. Early Christian writings say he preached in regions around the Black Sea and Greece, and a tradition holds that he was martyred at Patras in Greece by crucifixion, in the form of an X-shaped cross, which is why that shape is called a saltire or St. Andrew’s cross. Because of later traditions about relics being brought to Scotland, he is the patron saint of Scotland, and he is also honored in Russia, Romania, and Greece. His feast is celebrated on November 30. Whatever is made of these traditions, the Gospel portrait of Andrew as one who quietly introduces others to Jesus has made him an enduring example of personal invitation to faith.