Who was Andrew in the Bible?

Native of Bethsaida, brother of Simon Peter, and a fisherman: he became one of the twelve apostles. He had been a disciple of John, but hearing him say "Behold the Lamb of God!" he followed Jesus. He, at once found his brother Simon and told him that he had found the Messiah. There is little recorded of Andrew; he was one of the four who asked the Lord privately when the destruction of the temple should take place, and what would be the sign when the things spoken of should be fulfilled. After revealing that various judgements were coming the Lord added "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." Mark 13:3-4, 32. The Lord, as the Servant-Prophet (which is the character given by the Spirit in Mark) did not know the day. Tradition says that Andrew laboured in Scythia, Greece, and Asia Minor, and that he was crucified at Patrae in Achaia, on a cross of this form, X, which cross has since borne his name. Matt. 4:18; Luke 6:14; John 1:40, 44; Acts 1:13, etc.

Andrew. The sacred historian has been very full and copious in describing the acts of Peter, but very sparing in his accounts of his brother Andrew. He was brought up with Peter to his father's trade, and continued at his occupation until he was called by the Lord to become a "fisher of men."

Andrew, like other young men of Galilee, had become a disciple of John the Baptist. But on hearing his master a second time speak of Jesus as the Lamb of God, he left John to follow Jesus. He was, immediately after this, the means of bringing his brother Peter to his new Master. So far, he has the honour of being the first of the apostles who pointed to Christ. (John 1) He comes before us in the sixth and in the twelfth of John, and in the thirteenth of Mark, but, beyond these few scattered notices, scripture relates nothing concerning him. His name does not appear in the acts of the Apostles, except in the first chapter.

A brief review of the life and service of the Apostle Peter will be helpful in understanding his writings. He was born at Bethsaida in Galilee, from which Philip came also John 1:44, 45). His name was Simon (or Simeon, Acts 15:14) and his father's name was Jonas. He had a brother by name of Andrew, and the three, the father, Simon and Andrew were fishermen at Capernaum. There Simon Peter had his home, as he was a married man (Matthew 8:14; 1 Cor. 9:5). His brother Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and when he pointed out the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew followed Him. Andrew brought Peter to the Lord (John 1:35-43).

Andrew is a Greek name (as Philip also in another case) and seemingly answers to the Hebrew Adam. He was Simon's brother and the means of leading him, afterwards far more famous than himself, to the Lord, as we read in John 1, before their public call (Matthew 4; Luke 5).

Be that as it may, it is clear that these two disciples had got to Bethabara beyond Jordan where John was baptizing, that they had become John’s disciples, and that one of them was Andrew, the Galilean fisherman. In turn he left John and became the Lord’s disciple. He then introduced his brother Peter to the Lord, who changed his name from Simon to Cephas or Peter, meaning a stone; proof that God had been working in new creation power, and our Lord recognised this, in Andrew’s brother. There the curtain drops in John 1.

(4) Andrew. In Matthew and Luke, Andrew immediately follows Simon Peter in the list of names. They were brothers, and natives of Bethsaida, like Philip (John 1:44). Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, whom he left to follow Jesus, afterwards communicating to his own brother the joyful intelligence that the Messiah was found. This preceded the call by the Lord (Mark 1:16).

Little is said of Andrew. His name is, however, mentioned alone twice by John (John 6:8; John 12:22). The four, Peter, Andrew, James and John are named as being together with the Lord in the house at Capernaum (Mark 1:29) and on the mount of Olives (Mark 13:3).

He was originally with John the Baptist and was one of the first two men who followed the Messiah. The Baptist was standing with these two of his disciples, "and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God." The apostle who writes this tells us that one of these two was Andrew, but with characteristic modesty he omits to mention who the other was, because it was himself. These two men follow the Master, who presently turns to ask what they require: they only ask, "Rabbi, where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day." All this was very characteristic of these two reticent, deep-natured, men; the silent, unquestioning, patient following, the one enquiry which at length falls from their lips, and the nature of that enquiry which divine love had awakened in their souls. It was neither doctrinal nor polemical; simply "Rabbi, where dwellest THOU?"

The other disciple is then modestly left out of the narrative, but of Andrew we are told that, "He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, we have found the Messias! … and he brought him to Jesus." There Andrew's part is over for the time. Be it so: he had done a good day's work.

Now two disciples hearing this, left John and followed Jesus—blessed result of the Baptist’s ministry. Since he was the forerunner of our Lord, his ministry was to prepare souls for Him and point the way to Him, and in this case at least he was successful. We are then told that one of the two disciples was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

Andrew is now named as one of the two men. The other may very likely have been John, the evangelist, for he never names himself in writing this Gospel, though he delights to speak of the faith and devotion of others. Andrew gives his brother Simon a simple, straightforward message, which is effective in bringing Simon to the Lord. Andrew's visit with the Lord had left him no doubts that this was the Messiah of Israel. Here is another wonderful character of the church today, the privilege of bringing others to the Lord.

Nor does the work stop there or then. "Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,36 was one of the two that heard (it) from John and followed Him. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith to him, We have found the Messiah (which is interpreted Christ),37 and he led him to Jesus. Jesus, looking at him, said, Thou art Simon,38 the son of Jonah (or John); thou shalt be called Kephas, which is interpreted Peter (or, Stone)."39 Deeply interesting are the glimpses at the first introduction to Jesus of those souls who receiving Him found life eternal in Him, and were called afterwards to be foundations of that new building which would supersede the old, God's habitation in the Spirit. But all here concentrates in the Person of Jesus, to Whom Simon is brought by his brother, one of the first two whose souls were drawn to Him, however little yet they appreciated His glory. Yet was it a Divine work, and Simon's coming was answered with a knowledge of past and present and future that told out Who and What He was, Who now spoke to man on earth in grace. So Edd. as ℵBpmL., 33, several Latt. Memph. Æth. "Jonah" is read in ABconXΓΛΛΙΙ. Syrpesch pcl and Armen. ÆthH., and Epiph. Chrys. Cyr. Alex.