Andrew was
one of the twelve apostles of Jesus
and the brother of Simon Peter.
A fisherman from Bethsaida in Galilee,
he is best known for bringing others to Jesus,
including his own brother.
Though he is not as prominent
in the Gospel narratives as
Peter, James, or John,
Andrew plays an important role as
a quiet but faithful disciple.
Andrew was the son of Jonah (or John) and worked as a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee with his brother Simon Peter. According to the Gospel of John, Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist before he began following Jesus (John 1:35-40). After hearing John the Baptist identify Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew spent time with Jesus and then found his brother Simon and brought him to the Lord (John 1:41-42).
Jesus later called both Andrew and Peter to leave their fishing nets and follow Him, promising to make them “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18).
Andrew appears in several key moments in the Gospels:
Andrew is often seen as a bridge-builder and a personal evangelist — someone who consistently brought people to Jesus rather than seeking the spotlight himself.
The New Testament does not record the details of Andrew’s later ministry or death. Early church tradition holds that he preached the gospel in various regions and was eventually martyred by crucifixion. He is often associated with a diagonal cross (sometimes called St. Andrew’s Cross).
Andrew’s life highlights the quiet but essential work of bringing others to Jesus. He did not write any New Testament books and is not the focus of major sermons or miracles in the way Peter is, yet his simple act of bringing his brother to the Lord had enormous consequences for the early church. His example encourages believers that faithful, behind-the-scenes obedience and personal witness matter greatly in God’s kingdom.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.