Andrew
First-Called Apostle
1st century AD
Brother of Peter; first follower of John the Baptist, who brought Peter to Jesus.
“We have found the Messiah!” — John 1:41Talk with Andrew
The story of Andrew
Andrew was a fisherman from Bethsaida and the brother of Simon Peter. He was originally a disciple of John the Baptist, but when he heard John identify Jesus as the Lamb of God, he immediately followed Jesus. Andrew’s first act after finding the Messiah was to bring his brother Peter to meet Him, a pattern of introducing others to Jesus that would define his life.
Though he is not as prominent in the Gospels as Peter, James, or John, Andrew appears at several key moments. He was the one who found the boy with five loaves and two fish before the feeding of the five thousand. He also acted as a bridge for Greeks who wanted to speak with Jesus in Jerusalem, showing his role as an approachable and observant follower who looked for ways to connect people to Christ.
After the Ascension and Pentecost, tradition holds that Andrew traveled extensively to spread the Gospel, eventually reaching regions that are now part of Greece, Turkey, and Russia. He is said to have been martyred by crucifixion in Patras, Greece. According to tradition, he requested an X-shaped cross because he felt unworthy to die on the same type of cross as Jesus.
Key passages
John 1:35–42
Andrew follows Jesus after hearing John the Baptist and then brings his brother Peter.
Matthew 4:18–20
Jesus calls Andrew and Peter to leave their nets and become fishers of men.
John 6:8–9
Andrew points out the boy with the loaves and fish before the great miracle.
John 12:20–22
Andrew and Philip bring a group of Greeks to see Jesus.
Key books
- John
- Matthew
- Mark
- Acts
Questions you can ask
- “How did you first meet Jesus?”
- “Why did you bring Peter to him?”
- “Tell me about the boy with the loaves”
Common questions
Who was Andrew’s brother?
Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter. He is often remembered for being the one who first introduced Peter to Jesus.
What is the St. Andrew’s Cross?
It is an X-shaped cross. Tradition says Andrew was crucified on this type of cross in Greece because he did not consider himself worthy to die like Christ.
What was Andrew’s occupation before following Jesus?
He was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus called him and his brother to leave their trade to become fishers of men.