The Man He Was
Andrew is mentioned only 12 times in the New Testament, compared to 156 times for Peter. When he is referred to, it is often with the qualifier “Simon Peter’s brother.” Although greatly overshadowed by his bold and boisterous brother, Andrew, when we piece together the few brief glimpses we do get of him, emerges as a humble, faithful, even enthusiastic follower of Christ. (I would like to think that when the “Who is the greatest?” skirmish broke out among the disciples, Andrew was not involved – Luke 22:24).
Our first impression of Andrew comes in considering the interesting meaning and origin of his name. Andrew means “manly,” or “valorous,” and surprisingly, it is a Greek name. While his family was Hebrew to the core, Andrew’s parents chose to give him a Greek name (evidence perhaps of one of the many lasting influences of Hellenistic [Greek] culture on Jewish society in the first century), which turned out to perfectly fit the character of their son. His name would also one day prove helpful in bringing Greeks to Christ. Likely a single man, Andrew showed himself to be manly indeed, not just in a rugged, physical and earthly sense, but in the godly manner God intended a man to be and live.
Life for Andrew began in the household of his father Jonah in Bethsaida, where he would, in time, take up the common, practical work of a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. Later, he would share a home and business in Capernaum with his brother Simon (Mar 1:29). The long days and arduous labor that a successful fishing business required did not hinder Andrew’s growing interest in spiritual matters. Whether it was the influence of his upbringing or from his own study of Scripture, he first came to put his faith in God and then began looking for the long-awaited personal, spiritual, moral and national hope of Israel in the coming Messiah. Andrew may have been one of those early believers referred to by the Lord Jesus when praying to His Father: “Thine they were, and thou gavest them me” (Joh 17:6 KJV).
The Message He Heard
As a young man, Andrew’s faith was forged and deepened by a fiery preacher named John, whom he had heard about and who was baptizing down in Bethany of Judea by the Jordan River. His direct message about the need for repentance and the soon arrival of the Savior caught Andrew’s attention to such an extent that he was baptized by John and became his disciple. On one unforgettable day, walking along the banks of the Jordan, Andrew heard a message from John that would change his life forever: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Joh 1:29 ESV). With this astounding title and statement, John singled out the Lord Jesus as the God-sent sacrifice for sin and, stunningly, not for the Jews alone but for the whole world. Andrew left John and became, along with his friend John, the son of Zebedee, one of the first followers of Christ.
The Messiah He Found
Andrew did not waste any time. No sooner had he found Christ than he followed Christ. John, highlighting its significance, tells us it was at the tenth hour (4pm) that he and Andrew, upon Christ’s gracious question and invitation, went to see where He lived and learn who He was. What a discovery and blessing for Andrew as the Lord Jesus personally revealed His person and His plan as the Messiah. In comparing the Gospel accounts, it would seem that in John we have Andrew’s initial call to believe in and follow Christ; and then, in the Synoptics, we have his official call to discipleship by the Sea of Galilee sometime later.
The Ministry He Fulfilled
The privilege of Andrew’s ministry to be one of the 12 officially chosen disciples (learners) and apostles (sent ones) of Christ is one of the greatest in history. While perhaps not as deep as that of Peter, James and John, the intimacy of Andrew’s ministry with Christ is seen in the four lists of the Twelve in the Gospels. Andrew’s name is always among the first four listed, suggesting a close relationship with the Lord. We also notice the focus of Andrew’s ministry in three scenes where he is mentioned (Joh 1:40-42; 6:8,9; 12:22). In these various situations, he is involved in bringing different individuals to Christ. Working mostly “behind the scenes,” it seems Andrew effectively used his winsome, welcoming manner with people and his personal access to Christ to connect many with the Savior.
The Mention He Received
In the final mention of Andrew in Scripture (Act 1:13), we see him with the other disciples in the upper room, eagerly waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would usher in a whole new dispensation of God’s dealings with humanity through His people in the Church Age. Luke carefully records that the first local church that was formed in Jerusalem continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (2:42); and Paul reveals later that the Church, which is His body, is built upon the foundation of the apostles (Eph 2:20). Andrew is included in both of these important aspects of Church truth. While Scripture is silent about his subsequent years of service, there are early traditions as well as apocryphal accounts connecting Andrew to the evangelization of Scythia and Achaia, and ultimately facing martyrdom in Patras, Greece.
Andrew also expressed interest in future events (Mar 13:3), and the Lord Jesus connected Andrew to the coming millennial age when the 12 apostles will sit on thrones and rule over the 12 tribes of Israel (Mat 19:28). Revelation depicts the majestic, heavenly city as the privileged dwelling place of the Bride of Christ and upon whose foundation stones the very names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb will be engraved (Rev 21:14). These are remarkable mentions that tell of places of honor that await this former Galilean fisherman!
While the Bible’s portrayal of Andrew is minimal, there is enough about him to greatly encourage and assure us that whatever the nature, size or visibility of our work for the Lord, we all, however ordinary or different, have been chosen and given the remarkable opportunity to follow Christ humbly, reach others personally, and fulfill our ministry faithfully until He returns and rewards.
