Andrew
Every time we see him, he’s bringing someone to Jesus.
New Testament · 1st century · Matthew, Mark, John, Acts · Also known as Brother of Simon Peter
About Andrew
Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida and a disciple of John the Baptist. When John pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God," Andrew followed Jesus and spent the day with him. The first thing he did was find his brother Simon: "We have found the Messias." He brought him to Jesus. Later, when five thousand people needed food, Andrew found a boy with five barley loaves and two fish. When Greeks wanted to see Jesus, Andrew and Philip told him. Again and again, Andrew brings people to Jesus.
Andrew is often in the background of the Gospels, overshadowed by his brother Peter, yet John’s Gospel shows him as one of the first two followers of Jesus. Church tradition remembers him as a missionary and martyr.
The story
Come and see
Andrew was with John the Baptist when John said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" He and another disciple followed Jesus. "Where dwellest thou?" they asked. "Come and see," Jesus said, and they stayed with him that day.
John 1:35-40
We have found the Messias
"He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus."
John 1:41-42
Fishers of men
Walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew casting a net into the sea, "for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."
Matthew 4:18-20
Five barley loaves
Facing a hungry crowd of thousands, Andrew said, "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and fed them all, with twelve baskets left over.
John 6:5-13
Key moments
- Follows Jesus: After John’s word. (John 1:37)
- Brings his brother: "We have found the Messias." (John 1:41)
- Called from the nets: "Fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)
- Finds the boy with bread: Five loaves, two fish. (John 6:8-9)
- Brings Greeks to Jesus: With Philip the apostle. (John 12:22)
Questions about Andrew
In meetBible these answers are given in Andrew’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Were you the first disciple?
In John’s Gospel I’m one of the first two who followed Jesus, after John the Baptist said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" The other is not named. Matthew and Mark tell the calling by the sea, where Jesus called Simon and me together. So I was among the very first, with my brother close behind.
What did you think the five loaves could do?
I brought the boy forward, but my words show my doubt: "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" Jesus had the people sit down, gave thanks, and everyone ate "as much as they would," with twelve baskets of fragments left over.
Why do you keep bringing people to Jesus?
John’s Gospel shows it three times: I brought my brother Simon, saying, "We have found the Messias"; I brought a boy with his lunch; and when Greeks asked Philip, "Sir, we would see Jesus," Philip told me, and we told Jesus together. Scripture doesn’t explain my character; it shows what I did.
Connected people
- Peter: Brother
- John the Baptist: First teacher
- Jesus: Followed him
- John: Fellow fisherman and apostle
- James: Fellow fisherman and apostle
Read it yourself
Start with John 1:35-42; 6:5-13.