In the New Testament of the Bible, Andrew is a significant figure and one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is often mentioned alongside his brother, Simon Peter, who became one of the most prominent apostles and a close confidant of Jesus. Here's an overview of Andrew's story based on the biblical accounts:
First Encounter with
Jesus:
Andrew was a fisherman by
trade, working with his brother Peter in the town of Bethsaida on the Sea of
Galilee. According to the Gospel of John (John 1:35-42), Andrew and another
disciple of John the Baptist heard John proclaim Jesus as the "Lamb of
God." Intrigued, they followed Jesus and spent time with Him. Andrew was
so moved by Jesus' teachings that he went to find his brother Simon Peter and
told him, "We have found the Messiah" (meaning Christ).
Called to be an Apostle:
In the Synoptic Gospels
(Matthew, Mark, and Luke), there is an account of Jesus calling Andrew to be
His disciple. While fishing, Jesus approached Andrew and Peter, inviting them
to become "fishers of men." Both brothers immediately left their nets
and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20, Mark 1:16-18, Luke 5:1-11). This marked
the beginning of their apostolic ministry.
Role among the Apostles:
Andrew is often mentioned
as being present with Peter and other apostles during various significant
events in Jesus' life. He was part of the inner circle of Jesus' closest
followers.
Feeding of the Five
Thousand:
In John 6:1-15, Andrew
plays a notable role in the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. When
Jesus asked Philip where they could buy bread to feed the large crowd, it was
Andrew who brought a boy to Jesus with five barley loaves and two fish, which
Jesus then miraculously multiplied to feed the multitude.
Questions from Gentiles:
In John 12:20-22, some
Greeks who were in Jerusalem for the Passover festival approached Philip,
expressing their desire to see Jesus. Philip, in turn, went to Andrew, and they
both brought the request to Jesus.
After Jesus' Resurrection:
Following Jesus'
crucifixion and resurrection, Andrew was among the apostles who witnessed the
risen Christ. He was present in the upper room in Jerusalem when Jesus appeared
to them (Acts 1:13-14).
Andrew's Death:
While the Bible doesn't
provide specific details about Andrew's later ministry, church tradition holds
that he preached the Gospel in various regions, including Greece and what is
now modern-day Turkey. According to tradition, Andrew was martyred by
crucifixion in the city of Patras, Greece. He requested to be crucified on an
X-shaped cross, which is now known as the "Saint Andrew's Cross" and
serves as a symbol of his martyrdom.
Andrew's story
exemplifies his faithfulness to Jesus and his role as an enthusiastic
evangelist, bringing others to know Christ. He is recognized as the patron
saint of Scotland, Russia, and several other countries and regions, and his
feast day is celebrated on November 30th in the Western Christian tradition and
November 30th or May 15th in the Eastern Christian tradition.
