Ref: Mt 4:18, 10:2, Mk 1:16, 1:29, 3:18, 13:3, Lk 6:14, Jn 1:40,44, 6:8, 12:22, Acts 1:13
Andrew son of John was a fisherman originally from Bethsaida. He lived in Capernaum with his brother Peter along with Peter’s wife and mother-in-law. Though not as prominent as his brother Peter, or the sons of Zebedee, Andrew appears more regularly than the other disciples and these appearances tell us much about his character.
Now Andrew with his friend John son of Zebedee were both disciples of John the Baptist. This shows the type of man that he was. John preached a message of repentance in light of the coming of the kingdom of God. Upon hearing his message Andrew responded and answered the call. Now Andrew along with his friend John (son of Zebedee) would be the first disciples to follow Jesus. When Jesus returned from his temptation in the wilderness, John the Baptist seeing him, declared to his disciples: “behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”. The next day John stood with his disciples Andrew and John son of Zebedee. Seeing Jesus he again said “behold the lamb of God”. This time Andrew and John got the hint. They left John the Baptist and started to follow Jesus taking him as their Rabbi. The two of them came and saw where Jesus was staying and proceeded to spend the day with him. Believing he had found the Messiah Andrew found his brother Peter and brought him to Jesus (John 1:35-42). Though Peter would become the most prominent disciple it is interesting that it was Andrew who brought him to Jesus and not the other way round.
Along with the earliest disciples, Andrew spent much time with Jesus, but at this stage they didn’t continually dwell with him but came and went. It was later after John the Baptist had been imprisoned that Jesus’ ministry began in earnest. At this time Jesus again found Andrew and Peter fishing. He called them to follow him and promised that they would be fishers of men. Andrew proceeded to leave behind his trade and join with Jesus in his ministry (Matthew 4:18-20, Mark 1:16-20). A significant moment for Andrew was what would happen the following sabbath. After teaching in the synagogue and casting out a demon, Jesus went back to Andrew’s home. It was here that Peter’s mother in law was in bed sick with a fever. Jesus proceeded to heal her and she got up and was well. Later that evening Andrew and Peter’s house would become a scene of many miracles. The whole town had gathered at the door bringing to Jesus those who are sick and possessed. Up until this point Andrew had witnessed several isolated miracles but he now saw many miracles happening within his own home (Mark 1:21-34). Andrew would join Jesus on the road and along with the other disciples, he would be sent out by Jesus to announce the Kingdom of God and perform miracles.
The next event where Andrew appears prominently is the feeding of the 5,000. It was Andrew who found the boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Though he questioned what they would achieve amongst so many people, this simple act shows firstly his proactiveness and secondly his desire to be part of the solution (John 6:8-9). From the next event we see how Andrew was also respected by the other disciples. When some Greeks come to Philip seeking an audience with Jesus, it is to Andrew that Philip turns. Andrew doesn’t merely take things from there, but offering his support goes with Philip to ask Jesus together (John 12:20-26).
A few days later Andrew is mentioned with Peter, James and John. The four disciples hear Jesus say regarding the great building of Jerusalem that not one stone will be left upon another. As Jesus is sitting on the Mount of Olives, they ask Jesus when these things will happen and what the sign will be when these are fulfilled (Mark 13:1-4). Jesus then proceeds with his end times discourse. Though not quite in Jesus’ inner circle of 3, Andrew is occasionally grouped with them and occupies the next most prominent place amongst the apostles.
Andrew was present at the last supper and later fled upon the arrest of Jesus. Three days later he was back with the disciples and witnessed the resurrected Jesus appear before him and commission them to preach the gospel. Andrew was amongst the apostles at Pentecost and involved throughout the early days of the Church in Jerusalem. There is some evidence that he moved to Ephesus following the destruction of the temple, but this is late and rather tenuous. According to tradition he was crucified on an X shaped cross, however this is even less reliable and most likely didn’t happen. Like most of the apostles it is assumed he was martyred but we know nothing of his life beyond the early chapters of Acts.
What we learn from Andrew is that he is the unsung hero of the group. Andrew is always presented in a positive light in the New Testament. He was the first recorded person to bring someone to Jesus, he was proactive and he was respected amongst the disciples. Though he has less prominence that his brother or even the sons of Zebedee, he was amongst the first to follow Jesus. Andrew was a man of both faith and action who readily responded when God called him.